President Mwai Kibaki (second left) and Mr Raila Odinga (second right) with mediator Kofi Annan (centre), Ms Graca Machel and Mr Benjamin Mkapa after they held talks at Harambee House, Nairobi, on February 8, 2008., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Lawyers: ICC should drop Kenyan case
Published: Sept. 2, 2011 at 1:03 AM
THE HAGUE, Netherlands
Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Lawyers for three Kenyan leaders told the International Criminal Court Thursday that violence after the 2007 presidential race was unplanned.
At a hearing in The Hague, they said Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the prosecutor, has failed to produce evidence that former Higher Education Minister William Ruto, former Industrialization Minister Henry Kosgey and radio executive Joshua arap Sang violated international law, The Nation reported.
A total of six Kenyans face ICC charges. A hearing for the remaining three is scheduled later this month, CNN said.
Clashes between supporters of President Mwai Kibaki and his challenger, Raila Odinga, went on for days after the vote - in which Odinga apparently received more votes -- leaving more than 1,000 people dead. In an eventual settlement, Odinga became prime minister.
Katwa Kigen, Ruto's lawyer, said the violence was marked by "spontaneity and limited duration," suggesting it was not a concerted effort. He argued some organizations may have fomenting the fighting but not to the extent that it would be a crime against humanity within the jurisdiction if the ICC.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/09/02/Lawyers-ICC-should-drop-Kenyan-case/UPI-20591314939834/print/#ixzz1Wln3MPi9
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