THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The International Criminal Court ruled Tuesday that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta must "as a general rule" be present at his trial in the Netherlands.
"As a general rule, Mr. Kenyatta must be present at trial," the court said in a ruling Tuesday. "Any future requests to be excused from attending parts of the trial will be considered on a case-by-case basis."
Kenyatta is charged with acting as an indirect co-perpetrator in post-election violence that gripped Kenya from 2007-08. He's charged with five counts of crimes against humanity, including rape and murder.
At least 1,000 Kenyans died as a result of the violence.
The court in October ruled Kenyatta could be excused from some of the court's proceedings so he could with the aftermath of an al-Shabaab attack on an upscale Nairobi shopping center in September, which left more than 60 people dead.
Kenyan Vice President William Ruto and national broadcast director Joshua Sang face similar charges as the president. The African Union challenged the ICC's position on the Kenyan leaders, saying the trial should be postponed so they can address their constitutional obligations.
Kenyatta and Ruto, former rivals, were elected earlier this year. Kenyatta's trial begins in February. Ruto's began in September.
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