Africa fails to get Kenya ICC trials deferred at United Nations

The African Union had requested that the U.N. Security Council defer the cases against Uhuru Kenyatta and his number two, William Ruto, for one year to allow them to deal with the aftermath of an attack by al Qaeda-linked Somali militants.

But the 15-member Security Council was split - seven members, including Russia and China, voted in favor, and eight abstained, including France, the United States and Britain. Resolutions need nine votes and no vetoes to pass. Britain, France, the United States, China and Russia hold veto powers.

Kenya, a key partner in the West