UK sends minister in leaked papers row
Britain has sent its minister responsible for Africa to Kenya, possibly to defuse a row over disputed documents alleging that London was pushing for President Kibaki to be investigated over post election violence. (READ: UK accused of seeking Kibaki trial at ICC)
Britains Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the equivalent of an assistant minister, Mr Henry Belligham, is expected in Nairobi next week.
Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula said Mr Belligham, one of the people copied in the letters tabled in Parliament, will arrive possibly Tuesday or Wednesday.
His mission is to seek audience with the Kenyan leadership regarding the document, Mr Wetangula said.
Mr Wetangula added that he learnt of Mr Bellighams visit from the interim British High Commissioner, Dr Peter Tibber, who had visited the Foreign Affairs Ministry early on Monday.
The minister revealed that the controversial document had rattled the diplomatic community in Kenya, but reminded the MPs, who sit in Parliaments Defence and Foreign Relations Committee, that Britain had since denounced the document as a fabrication.
The policy of Her Majestys Government is not to comment on leaked documents. However, having seen copies of the documents in question, we would like to assure the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that these are not genuine, the British High Commission said in a statement dated March 9, just a day after the document was laid in the House.
Kenyas spy agency, the National Security Intelligence Service, Mr Wetangula said, had urged caution regarding the disputed documents, which were tabled in Parliament provoking heated exchanges.
It is believed the British minister will meet President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga and also the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee. The dossier alleged that the conspiracy by the UK was to have the suspects detained, install Raila as next president and prepare conditions for Kibakis indictment.
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