{UAH} BREAKING NEWS: UN rejects Africa bid to halt Kenya leaders' ICC trials
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10:05 AM |
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UN rejects Africa bid to halt Kenya leaders' ICC trials
Both men deny involvement in post-election violence in 2007The UN Security Council has rejected an attempt to suspend the trials of Kenya's president and vice-president at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
A resolution had been proposed by African states to suspend the trial of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto for a year.
Eight of the 15 council members abstained and the motion did not pass.
Both men face charges over violence following the disputed 2007 election, which left some 1,200 people dead.
Seven members of the Security Council - including Russia and China - voted in favour of the resolution, but nine votes are needed for a resolution to be successful at the council.
While Mr Ruto went on trial in September, the ICC delayed President Kenyatta's trial until February following September's attack on the Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, which left 67 people dead.
Mr Kenyatta is to become the first serving head of state to go on trial at an international court.
Last month, countries attending an African Union summit in Ethiopia demanded a further deferral for Mr Kenyatta's trial.
It also agreed a resolution stating no sitting African head of state should appear before an international court.
With Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir facing an ICC case as well as Mr Kenyatta, African leaders have long complained that the court unfairly targets them.
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