Africa to push UN resolution to delay Kenya trials
Oct 31, 2013, 6:51 PM
UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The African Union says its members will introduce a resolution in the U.N. Security Council to delay the International Criminal Court trial of Kenya’s leaders for a year.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who led an AU delegation to informal talks with the council, told reporters a deferral is crucial to prevent Kenya’s destabilization.
Pressure for a deferral has intensified following last month’s deadly terror attack by militants on a Nairobi mall.
Ghebreyesus said Thursday some council members support a deferral of the trials of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, and others “have some difficulties with it.”
The cases against the leaders relate to deadly postelection violence in 2007 and 2008.
The ICC said Thursday it has postponed Kenyatta’s trial until Feb. 5.
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