ICC postpones Kenyatta trial to November this year

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Thursday postponed the beginning of the trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to November 12, 2013.The start of the trial was originally scheduled for July 9, but in April the trial chamber had already determined that the defense should be granted additional time to prepare for trial due to the delays by the prosecution in disclosing its evidence. Kenyatta is charged, as an indirect co-perpetrator, with five counts of crimes against humanity consisting of murder, deportation or forcible transfer, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts allegedly committed during the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007 and 2008, in which more than 1,000 people died. In March this year Kenyatta was elected president of Kenya. Vice-president William Ruto is also due to go on trial in The Hague for similar charges on September 10 this year. Last Tuesday the ICC conditionally granted the request of Ruto to be excused from being physically present continuously throughout the trial. He only needs to be present at key sessions.