Image Text:

STEPPING DOWN: Kenyan Finance Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta, has resigned from his post

TWO TOP Kenyan politicians have resigned after learning that they will face trial over the post-election violence in the country in 2007, it has been reported.

Finance minister, Uhuru Kenyatta and cabinet secretary, Francis Muthaura stepped down yesterday, three days after the ICC ruled that they were among four prominent Kenyans, who should face prosecution for crimes against humanity.

Kenyatta, who is a close ally to incumbent president, Mwai Kibaki, will remain deputy prime minister, according to a statement issued by Kibaki.

It is still unclear whether Kenyatta - also son of Kenya's founding President, Jomo Kenyatta - will abandon his presidential ambitions.

More than 1,200 people are said to have been killed in weeks of unrest four years ago following presidential elections where supporters of the two rival presidential candidates, Raila Odinga and incumbent president Mwai Kibaki, clashed.

Over 600,000 people were reportedly forced to flee their homes, many are still believed to remain homeless.

All four men deny the accusations and no date has been set for the trials.