Kenya argued on Thursday that putting its top two leaders on trial before the International Criminal Court could compromise security in the often volatile east African region.

The indictments for crimes against humanity against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto "create particular problems in the context of regional peace and security," Kenya's attorney-general Githu Muigai said.

Kenyan protesters furious over parliamentary bills they say risk undermining democracy marched through the streets of the capital Thursday, presenting a petition of several thousand names to lawmakers.

Last month, MPs pushed through a hugely controversial bill that could see journalists and media outlets policed by a special quasi-government body and slapped with huge fines or potentially even forced out of business if they violate a code of conduct.

One of four men facing trial in connection with Kenya's Westgate mall massacre in September fiercely denied the charges in court Wednesday, describing himself as a deeply religious man.

"I am a practicing Muslim who believes in the sanctity of human life, and had nothing to do with the murderous attack on the Westgate Mall whatsoever," said Adan Mohamed Abidkadir Adan during a bail application.

International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on Wednesday sought a gag order against Kenya Vice President William Ruto discussing his case at a meeting of court member states, the latest battleground for African leaders accusing the court of racism.

The annual meeting of the ICC's Assembly of States Parties (ASP) in The Hague began on Wednesday and is turning into a forum for African leaders to vent their frustration with the world's only permanent court for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The U.N. Security Council on Friday rejected an African demand to suspend the International Criminal Court crimes against humanity trials of Kenya's top two leaders, sparking a diplomatic storm.

Some African nations reacted with fury to the rebuff, while Security Council members were angered by accusations by Kenya and its allies that they had humiliated the continent.

Kenya said Thursday it had stripped 104 people of their citizenship as part of an ongoing security crackdown set in motion by the September attack on the Westgate shopping mall.

The country is currently carrying out a full audit of all national identity documents issued in recent years, cleaning out corruption from its immigration service and tightening up procedures at airports, ports and border posts.

Detectives scouring Kenya's Westgate shopping mall after September's massacre by Islamist gunmen have completed on-site investigations, the government said Wednesday.

However, with the rear of the four-story building collapsed after a huge fire sparked by fierce fighting between the militants and security forces, the complex is far from reopening.

The U.N. Security Council will vote Friday on an African call for the International Criminal Court trial of Kenyan leaders to be suspended for a year, diplomats said.

Rwanda's U.N. envoy Eugene Richard Gasana told reporters after Security Council talks on the case that African states were pressing for a vote this week on their draft resolution.

Ethiopia has warned of an increased threat from Somalia's al-Qaida-linked Shebab, saying the country should expect more attacks, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The announcement comes after two Somali nationals were killed last month when a bomb they were making exploded in Addis Ababa. Officials said they planned to target crowds gathered for a World Cup qualifying match.

Four men charged in connection with Kenya's Westgate mall massacre in September appeared in court on Monday, with defense lawyers and prosecutors arguing over if they should be granted bail.

All four have pleaded not guilty to the charges of "supporting a terrorist group", as well as entering Kenya illegally and obtaining false identification documents. The Westgate attack, which left at least 67 people dead, was claimed by Somalia's Al-Qaida-linked Shebab rebels.