Top of the Morning: Kenya’s Deputy President Arrives in Hague for ICC Trial

Top stories from DAWNS Digest

Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto Arrives in the Hague

The first major trial of Kenyan leaders at the International Criminal Court kicks off today, with Deputy President William Ruto and a radio executive Joseph Arap Sang as co-defendants. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to face trial in November. “The charges against the three stem from violence that broke out after disputed elections in 2007, in which more than 1,000 people were killed and 600,000 forced from their homes. Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto were on opposite sides during the 2007 election and are accused of orchestrating attacks on members of each other’s ethnic groups but formed an alliance for elections in March this year.” (BBC http://bbc.in/19BLpym)

CAR Troubles: Scores Killed in Major Gun Battles

This would be among the worst fighting since rebels gained power. “At least 55 people have been killed in fighting between the forces of the new Central African Republic (CAR) president and those loyal to deposed leader Francois Bozize, according to the government and a regional peacekeeping force. Bozize’s forces infiltrated villages around Bossangoa, 250 km northwest of the capital Bangui, destroying bridges and other infrastructure and ‘taking revenge against the Muslim population’, Guy-Simplice Kodegue, spokesman for the office of President Michel Djotodia, said on Monday. Bossangoa is the main town of the Ouham district where General Bozize was born.” (Al Jazeera http://aje.me/1exobNz)

Latest on Syria: Did John Kerry Accidentally Avert War?

It was a very busy — and rather bizarre — day of developments on the Syria crisis. Early in the morning John Kerry suggested in an apparently off-the-cuff remark that the only way Assad could avoid US military strikes was to put all of his chemical weapons under international control in one week’s time. Russia’s foreign minister seized on this idea, and apparently secured Syrian approval for it. Ban Ki Moon endorsed the proposal at a press conference later in the day. As did David Cameron. In the meantime, President Obama will address the USA in a televised speech tonight and the leader of the US Senate said he would delay a vote on the strike. (Guardian http://bit.ly/19BMzd5)