Top news: Kenyans are heading to the polls today in a hotly anticipated presidential election. Fears that this year's election may bring a return to the brutal communal violence that marred the 2007 election and left over 1,000 dead and displaced 600,000 has made this year's election a bellwether for the country's democratic future.
Early reports Monday indicated that turn-out was high but also included reports of overnight violence. In the coastal city of Mombasa, a machete-wielding gang attacked a group of police officers, killing nine. Across the country, long lines were reported as Kenyans waited up to six hours in line to cast their ballots. Ahead of the election, the country's outgoing president, Mwai Kibaki appealed for peace. "I also make a passionate plea for all of us to vote peacefully," he said. "Indeed, peace is a cornerstone of our development."
It is unclear whether Monday's election will lead to a decisive outcome, and the race may be determined by a run-off election between the top two candidates. The two front-runners in the race are Raila Odinga, the prime minister, and Uhuru Kenyatta, a deputy prime minister. The ICC has charged Kenyatta for his role in the 2007 violence, alleging that he bankrolled groups behind the violence.
Middle East: Having secured promises from Mohammed Morsy's government that it will move ahead with IMF-mandated reforms, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that the United States will provide Egypt a $250 million aid package. Continuing his swing through the region, Kerry met Monday with Saudi diplomats who staked out a more aggressive posture on providing arms to Syrian rebels, exposing a rift in policy between the two regional allies.
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