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Kenyan journalist loses appeal on ICC case

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A Kenyan judge said Friday journalist Walter Barasa can be extradited to The Hague to face charges of influencing witnesses at the International Criminal Court.

Kenyan Justice Richard Mwongo ruled Friday the journalist lost his bid to block an arrest warrant issued against him last year by the ICC. Barasa has two weeks to appeal the verdict.

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"[Kenyan] Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku is now at liberty to commence these proceedings against Barasa but that liberty has been stayed for 14 days pending appeal," the judge was quoted by Kenyan broadcaster Capital FM as saying.

The ICC said Barasa is wanted on three charges of corrupting or attempting to corrupt three witnesses in the court's case against Vice President William Ruto and national broadcast director Joshua Sang.

Both men are facing war crimes charges at the ICC for their role in post-election violence that left more than 1,000 people dead following the 2007 presidential contest.

Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta, who also faces war crimes charges, were elected last year.

Barasa says he's innocent, though the Kenyan broadcaster says he now has a chance to make his case in a court of law.

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