Kenyans Pass New Constitution

Nairobi, Kenya

A majority of Kenyans have voted in favour of a new constitution in a historic referendum that accomplished the country’s 20-year search for a new constitution.

The official results showed 67 percent for the draft law against 30 per cent who opposed it. Over 12.4 million Kenyans had registered to vote but about 9 million took part in the exercise.

The leaders of the country’s unity government - President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga - addressed a rally in Nairobi after the win and accommodate those who opposed the new law.

The draft law had been opposed by most Christian churches and prominent politicians led by former President Daniel arap Moi and Higher Education Minister William Ruto.

Ruto conceded defeat in a press conference on behalf of the “No” campaign hours before President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga addressed their victory rally.

The new constitution reduces the immense powers of the Kenyan presidency and addresses long running issues corruption, tribalism, and land reforms, which have plagued the East African country since its independence in 1963.[ER]

Supermodel Admits Receiving ‘Dirty Stones’ from Charles Taylor

Hague, Netherland

British super model Naomi Campbell has testified that she received ‘some dirty-looking’ stones from former Liberian warlord Charles Taylor after a 1997 charity dinner in South Africa.

Campbell told the war crimes court in Hague that she received a pouch from two unidentified men, seemingly a gift from Taylor. Campbell however denied having known Taylor before receiving the stones, and claimed to have given out the stones to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund for charity. The Fund presented a letter presented to the hearing denying receipt of the stones.

Ex-President Taylor was arrested in 2007 and charged in the UN-backed court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Prosecutors are linking Campbell’s testimony to Taylor’s involvement with the ‘blood diamond’ trade that helped prolong the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, killing more than 250,000 people. So far Taylor has pled “not guilty” to 11 charges.[ER]