Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is facing trial at the Hague for crimes against humanity, has been invited to attend a conference on Tuesday in Britain.
The invitation marks a possible change in policy by Britain, which previously said it would have only "essential contact" with Mr. Kenyatta because of the charges.
The conference in London will focus on Somalia, where Kenya has about 5,000 troops as part of an African force fighting the militant group al-Shabab.
The British High Commissioner in Kenya, which delivered the invitation to Mr. Kenyatta earlier this week, said Kenya "plays a vital role on Somalia" and hosts more Somali refugees than any other nation.
Diplomatic sources said Mr. Kenyatta, elected president in March, is likely to attend the conference in London.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has charged Mr. Kenyatta with helping to orchestrate deadly ethnic violence following Kenya's disputed 2007 elections. Mr. Kenyatta is cooperating with the ICC but has denied the charges. His trial is set for July.
The invitation marks a possible change in policy by Britain, which previously said it would have only "essential contact" with Mr. Kenyatta because of the charges.
The conference in London will focus on Somalia, where Kenya has about 5,000 troops as part of an African force fighting the militant group al-Shabab.
The British High Commissioner in Kenya, which delivered the invitation to Mr. Kenyatta earlier this week, said Kenya "plays a vital role on Somalia" and hosts more Somali refugees than any other nation.
Diplomatic sources said Mr. Kenyatta, elected president in March, is likely to attend the conference in London.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has charged Mr. Kenyatta with helping to orchestrate deadly ethnic violence following Kenya's disputed 2007 elections. Mr. Kenyatta is cooperating with the ICC but has denied the charges. His trial is set for July.