The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor shall launch an inquiry to determine whether "crimes against humanity' were perpetrated in Kenya after the December 2007 elections. The prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, made the announcement today during a press conference in Nairobi. "I am convinced that the crimes perpetrated in Kenya between January and February 2008 might be considered crimes against humanity – said Moreno Ocampo – as such I will ask for authorization to pursue an investigation". Last July, Kofi Annan, mediator in the Kenyan political crisis, characterized by violence that left some 1300 people dead and 300,000 refugees, handed the ICC a list of suspected people involved in fomenting the violence. Political sources from various groups say that the list includes names of ministers and public figures. Having failed to approve a law to create 'ad hoc' courts, the government has accepted to collaborate with the ICC to ensure that those responsible for the murder and looting that held the country hostage for two months would be handed to international justice. "We will offer investigators our support and help such that justice be done" said prime minister Raila Odinga, in the presence of president Emilio Mwai Kibaki at the conference. During a visit to the refugee camps, some people approached Moreno Ocampo asking him to "end the impunity" in the country.[AB]
