Ruto meeting with Ocampo extended

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 - Suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto was on Friday morning engaged in intense talks with International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and his team at The Hague.

Belgut MP Charles Keter who has accompanied Mr Ruto to The Netherlands told Capital News that the meeting kicked off at about 8am (10am Kenyan time) on Friday.

"From yesterday (Thursday) we were here. Today we were here from eight in the morning. We have just come out for a cup of tea," he said.

Mr Keter said he expected the discussions to go on until 1pm which is 3pm Kenyan time. The Belgut MP has accompanied Mr Ruto together with his two lawyers Katwa Kigen and Dr Kithure Kindiki.

Mr Ruto left the country on Wednesday.

He is understood to have requested for the meeting to record a statement with the ICC, which is investigating the violence that broke out after the disputed 2007 general election.

"I asked for an appointment with Ocampo and his group so that we can set the record straight and get to the truth," he told journalists shortly before his departure on Wednesday night.

Last month Mr Ocampo revealed that a high ranking politician had written to him expressing willingness to appear voluntarily before the ICC and Mr Ruto confirmed he was the one.

On Thursday, two Cabinet Ministers were said to be planning to travel to The Hague to hold similar meetings with Mr Ocampo.

They are believed to be individuals who Mr Ocampo wrote to asking them to give any information they have about the 2008 post election violence in Kenya.