The International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo arrived in Kenya Thursday for talks on trying those behind last year's post-poll violence, which claimed some 1,500 lives.

During his two-day visit, Moreno-Ocampo will hold talks with the December 2007 election rivals, President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The ICC has conducted preliminary investigations since February 2008 on the violence that broke out during the vote counting process and spiralled into tribal feuds that also left hundreds of thousands displaced.

The Kenyan government has yet to act on the recommendations of its own year-old inquiry that a special tribunal be set up to try key suspects.

Fear of political interference
Parliament earlier this year rejected a bill aimed at creating the court, arguing that the tribunal would be prone to political interference, but critics have said the move was out of fear of facing trial.

Moreno-Ocampo's office said in September he was determined to prosecute those "most responsible" for alleged crimes against humanity.

He said he would make the east Africa country a "world example on managing violence."

His visit to Kenya could determine whether the ICC chief decides on prosecution with or without a formal green light from the Kenyan executive.

The list of the main suspects has not been made public, but it is known to include several ministers and members of parliament.

Former United Nations chief Kofi Annan, who handed the list to the ICC in July, last month warned of a serious risk of resumption of violence if Kenya fails to undertake institutional and legal reforms.

Western pressure
Western governments have in recent months piled pressure on Kenya's unity government to accelerate the reforms.

On Wednesday, Kenyan Attorney General Amos Wako admitted during a press conference that he was the first official to have his US visa revoked as part of sanctions slapped by Washington on officials accused of involvement in the post-election violence and of obstructing reform.

Annan helped mediate an end to the violence, crafting a power-sharing government in which Kibaki retained his job and Odinga made the prime minister.

Violence erupted after Kibaki was declared the winner of the 27 December 2007 polls, sparking accusations from Odinga that he had rigged his re-election.

What began as political violence quickly turned into reprisal tribal killings, tapping on poverty, long-held ethnic hatred and unresolved land disputes.

Kenya's next general elections will be in 2012.

Source: AFP