Nairobi, Kenya - Botswana, whose former President, Festus Mogae, observed the Kenyan elections, has become the first nation to signal possible travel ban against Uhuru Kenyatta, winner of the 4 March polls.
Botswana's Foreign Minister, Phandu Skelemani, said Wednesday the decision would, however, be subject to the judicial process at the ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC).
The minister was quoted by the Kenyan Daily nation newspaper as stating that Botswana was aware that Kenyatta remained innocent of the charges against him and his country would still welcome him for as long as he cooperated.
Botswana and Kenya recently revived diplomatic ties at a meeting in Kenya late 2012 as part of Kenya's efforts to strengthen ties with rich South African states, including Botswana and Angola.
Kenya Airways flies to Botswana following an air services agreement between the two.
Kenyan officials reportedly condemned the statement made earlier by the Minister, calling it contemptuous.
In a statement, the minister later said he retracted the earlier call for a travel ban and invited Kenyatta, to visit the country if he so wished.
Diplomats in neighboring Namibia told PANA they would not make any such pronouncements.
'We are not going to follow Botswana,' said a source at the Namibian foreign ministry.
Meanwhile, Kenyatta continued to receive Arabian and African diplomats who have been paying homage to him and his running mate since his disputed presidential poll victory on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Kenyatta said he received goodwill messages from Sudanese leader Omer Al-Bashir, through ambassador Kamal Ismael Saeed and another message from Qatari King, Hamid bin Khaleefa.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) also sent a congratulatory to outgoing President Mwai Kibaki.
'The IGAD Secretariat takes this opportunity to also congratulate the new President-elect and renew to President of Kenya, the assurance of its highest consideration,' said a diplomatic note sent Wednesday.
Earlier, Egyptian ambassador Kadri Abdel Mottaleb, met Kenyatta to offer him President Morsi's personal congratulatory message.
Russia and China have also formally acknowledged Kenyatta's victory.
Britain and the European Union diplomats previously stated they would have nothing to do with Kenyatta if he is elected.
Pana 14/03/2013