Kenya court orders arrest of ICC-wanted Walter Barasa

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27412257

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Kenya's high court has ordered the arrest of journalist Walter Barasa.

It follows a request by Kenya's director of public prosecution for his extradition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The ICC requested Mr Barasa' arrest last year. He denies witness interference in the ICC trial of Deputy President William Ruto.

Mr Ruto denies charges of organising ethnic violence after Kenya's disputed 2007 election.

In court papers made public last October, ICC prosecutors said Mr Barasa had offered bribes amounting to $16,200 (£10,000).

Correspondents say that he may soon be taken into custody.

If found guilty he could face up to five years in jail.

Some 1,200 people died and 600,000 were forced from their homes following the presidential election on 27 December 2007.

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta is also due to stand trial on similar charges - he too denies the allegations.

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto were on opposite sides in the 2007 election, but formed an alliance to win power in elections a year ago.

They told Kenyans that they had resolved their differences, and accused the ICC was meddling in the country's affairs by pressing ahead with their trials.

Correspondents say that the withdrawal of witnesses has affected several ICC cases related to the Kenya poll violence.