The International Criminal Court has ordered four prominent Kenyans to stand trial over accusations that they helped organize deadly post-election violence in their country four years ago.

The Hague-based court confirmed the charges against four of the six suspects without naming any of them. Prosecutors had presented evidence to the court last year for the judges to determine whether there was enough evidence to send the accused to trial.

The accused include Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura, former police chief Mohammed Hussein Ali, former education minister William Ruto, former industrialization minister Henry Kosgey and radio executive Joshua Arap Sang.

Top prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told the court in September that Kenyatta and Muthaura took part in key meetings to plot revenge attacks against rivals. He says they urged Ali to ensure his police officers did not intervene.

The post-election violence killed about 1,300 people and displaced more than 300,000 others.

The defendants have denied the charges.

Critics accused incumbent President Mwai Kibaki of stealing the 2007 election from Prime Minister Raila Odinga through fraud. The two leaders later agreed to form Kenya's current power-sharing government.