ICC to probe Kenya election violence(2)
The ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo arrives in Kenya to request an investigation into suspected crimes against humanity, committed during the post-election violence in 2008.
Script:
These families fled Kenya's post-election bloodshed last year -
ethnic clashes which killed at least 1,300 people and uprooted more
than 300,000.
They're calling for the immediate arrests and prosecution of
those responsible - something the government has so far failed to
do.
SOUNDBITE- Peter Kuria, Internally Displaced Person, saying
(Swahili)
"They chased me with machetes and clubs and I was seriously
injured, I know those people who did this to us, we know very well
those who looted and set our property on fire. All I'm saying is,
because of the incompetence of the system no one has been
arrested."
But now, their appeal for justice may be answered.
The International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis
Moreno-Ocampo is requesting an investigation into those suspected
of crimes against humanity.
He held talks with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister
Raila Odinga in Nairobi on how to bring the masterminds of the
violence to justice.
SOUNDBITE- ICC Chief Prosecutor, Louis Moreno-Ocampo saying
(English)
"I explained to them that I consider the crimes committed in
Kenya were crimes against humanity, and I consider that therefore
the gravity is there."
Crisis mediator Kofi Annan strongly supports legal proceedings
against the main suspects.
He's already given Moreno-Ocampo a list of people- said to
include influential cabinet ministers, members of parliament and
businessmen.
For their part, Kibaki and Odinga have allowed the chief
prosecutor to pursue his own investigation rather than referring
the case themselves to the ICC.
They say they're committed both to cooperating with the ICC and
to establishing a local prosecution mechanism.
But the problem for Kenya's leaders is that they were rivals
during the presidential race.
The killing started after President Kibaki was declared the
winner, and Odinga disputed the results.
By giving up any of their former party allies accused of
violence, they risk the collapse of their coalition and a new
outburst of ethnic violence.
Lee Marzel, Reuters