Kenyan president appears before ICC for crimes against humanity

The Hague, Oct 8 (EFE) Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta Wednesday became the first serving head of state to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity committed during the 2007-2008 post-election riots in Kenya.

A crowd of supporters and sympathisers received the Kenyan president at the entrance to the ICC, where the prosecution has accused him of five counts of crimes against humanity.

Kenyatta has temporarily handed over power to his deputy, William Ruto, who too faces similar charges at the ICC.

After his appearance, the court should decide if it would open a trial against him, although the prosecution Wednesday requested an indefinite adjournment due to lack of cooperation from the Kenyan government.

The Office of the Prosecutor has accused Kenyatta of having orchestrated and financed the wave of violence that swept Kenya after the elections in 2007 when he was a deputy prime minister and minister of finance.

About 1,300 people died and 600,000 were forced out from their homes at the time.

Kenyatta and Ruto won the elections held in March 2013, which, unlike those that took place in late 2007, were held in a generally peaceful atmosphere.

Kenya became the first country to elect a head of state that may be prosecuted by the ICC.

--IANS/EFE

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