International court weighs Kenya president’s case

In this Saturday March 9, 2013 file photo, Kenyan president elect Uhuru Kenyatta waves at supporters after winning the election in Nairobi, Kenya. AP

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands—Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have asked judges not to reject their faltering case against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta entirely, despite acknowledging they do not have enough evidence to convict him.

Defense lawyers have demanded acquittal.

In a hearing on how the case should proceed, prosecutor James Stewart told judges that Kenya’s government is intimidating witnesses and obstructing access to information, particularly about Kenyatta’s finances, which could prove vital to the case. He asked for an indefinite delay.

Kenyatta has pleaded innocent to charges of crimes against humanity for his alleged role in organizing violence that left more than 1,000 people dead after Kenya’s 2007 elections

Presiding Judge Kuniko Ozaki said the panel hearing the case in The Hague, Netherlands, will not decide the matter Wednesday.

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