ICC seeking speedy Kenya trials

The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo, left, stands next to Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga as he addresses the media at the office of the President in Nairobi, Kenya (5 Nov 2009) The Kenyan government has pledged to help the ICC with prosecutions

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor says he wants to move quickly against the perpetrators of Kenya's 2007 post-election violence.

Luis Moreno Ocampo said two or three cases could come to trial by July next year.

Mr Ocampo said "speed" was important so Kenya could hold its next election in 2012 without the threat of violence.

On Thursday, Mr Ocampo formally requested judges at the Hague to open an investigation into the violence.

"Everyone is worried about the next election in Kenya in 2012. That is why I understand the importance of speed," Mr Ocampo told reporters in Nairobi as he ended a three-day visit.

He indicated that any trials could take place in Kenya, or at least in Arusha - in Tanzania - where suspects involved in the 1994 Rwanda genocide have been prosecuted.

After meeting with the chief prosecutor earlier in the week, Kenya's government said it would co-operate with an ICC probe.

Prominent Kenyan politicians, including cabinet ministers, are suspected of being behind the violence.

The clashes between December 2007 and February 2008 left some 1,300 people dead and forced 300,000 from their homes.

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga agreed to share power to end the clashes that followed the 2007 poll.

A power-sharing deal in 2008 - brokered by former UN head Kofi Annan - agreed that a local tribunal would be set up to prosecute those behind the violence.

Bookmark with:

What are these?

E-mail this to a friend
Printable version

Print Sponsor

KENYA'S SHAKY UNITY
KEY STORIES

Oscar Kamau Kingara (image: Oscar Foundation website) Murder most foul
Assassination of activist is latest threat to rule of law
Has power-sharing worked?

open Life under power-sharing
Kenya police 'ran death squads' Book shops afraid of graft expose Ethnic divide continues Election orphans Fear stalks Kenyans one year on EYEWITNESS
Audio slideshow: Bernard Slideshow: Mariam

open School torched
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Kenya's rift Militia strike back Guide to poll fraud Q&A: Kenya peace deal PROFILES

SERVICES

BBC logo News alerts
Get the latest breaking news delivered to your desktop or mobile device

RELATED BBC LINKS World Service Africa BBC Swahili
RELATED INTERNET LINKS (External) Kenya government (External) ICC The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
TOP AFRICA STORIES Millions get yellow fever vaccine
UK in terror warning for Timbuktu
Algeria clears ex-Guantanamo men

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Quantcast

Explore the BBC

Home

BBC links A to F

BBC links H to L

BBC links M to Sc

BBC links Sp to W

A whole lot more

To top

Site Links

BBC links

BBC © MMIX

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific

watch One-Minute World News

Change Text Only Settings

Graphic version of this page

Related BBC sites