Key Kenya politicians face ICC over post-poll violence
The violence brought Kenya to the brink of civil warSix key Kenyan politicians accused over post-election violence in 2007 are due to appear at the International Criminal Court in The Hague
The men - including Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta - will be formally accused of crimes against humanity including murder, rape and persecution.
Kenya has asked the ICC for a deferral, and says it is now able to investigate and prosecute these cases itself.
More than 1,000 people were killed in the violence in Kenya in 2007 and 2008.
Some 500,000 people were driven from their homes.
The violence broke out after supporters of President Mwai Kibaki were accused of trying to rig the presidential election. It ended when Mr Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga agreed to share power, with Mr Odinga becoming prime minister.
Peace dealThe six men - leading figures in the parties that now make up the coalition government - were named in December by ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo.
They are, on President Kibaki's side, secretary to the cabinet Francis Kirimi Muthaura, former police chief Mohammed Hussein Ali and Mr Kenyatta, son of founding President Jomo Kenyatta, who face charges of murder, deportation, persecutions and rape.
On the prime minister's side, Higher Education Minister William Ruto (who is suspended amid corruption allegations), radio executive Joshua Arap Sang and Minister for Industrialisation Henry Kosgey face charges of murder, deportation, persecutions and torture.
All six have denied any involvement in the violence and say they are ready to face justice.
Dozens of Kenyan MPs are expected to be in The Hague to provide moral support for the six accused, the BBC's world affairs correspondent Peter Biles says.
He adds that the purpose of this pre-trial hearing is to inform the men of the crimes they are alleged to have committed.
The ICC alleges that a criminal plan was put in place in the Rift Valley for supporters of President Kibaki to be attacked after the election.
Mr Ocampo has said that in retaliation, police were given the green light to use excessive force and a vigilante group was organised to attack civilians.
The violence brought the country to the brink of civil war, with long-standing ethnic and economic rivalries ignited by political divisions.
One of the worst incidents saw a church where about 100 people had sought sanctuary set on fire, killing dozens inside.
The violence ended after former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan brokered a peace deal between the two presidential rivals. As part of the deal, it was agreed that perpetrators would face justice in Kenya or at the ICC in The Hague.
The organisation Human Rights Watch says this appearance of the six Kenyans in The Hague is an important test of their co-operation with the ICC.
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