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EU top aid official urges 'ceasefire'
in Kenya conflict
Posted : Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:41:01 GMT
Author : DPA
Nairobi - The European Union's aid chief on Saturday called on
Kenya's opposition to halt protests against disputed election
results that have been met by harsh police response across the
country and have left dozens killed.
Louis Michel, who met with President Mwai Kibaki and opposition
leader Raila Odinga on a one-day visit to the country, said he was
"less pessimistic" that the warring sides would agree to meet and
find a solution to the crisis that has rocked the East African
nation.
Michel criticized "all protests that may exacerbate tensions,
passions, frustrations and discontent at this moment when we are
creating the conditions for negotiations to resolve the problem."
He called for a "semantic and rhetorical ceasefire" between the
two camps, saying he was confident Kibaki would investigate
excessive use of force by police and Odinga would halt the
protests.
On Saturday, the opposition Orange Democratic Movement said it
would call its supporters to rise up yet again on Thursday, after
having said earlier it would switch its pressure tactics to
economic boycotts.
The EU has threatened to block budgetary aid to Kenya, but as the
country's annual budget is made up of less than five per cent of
foreign aid, the move would be largely symbolic.
Michel said the EU was set to release 8 million dollars in
humanitarian aid to help the 250,000 people displaced by the
conflict.
Further mediation is set to start Tuesday, with former UN
secretary general Kofi Annan set to arrive in the country to bring
both sides to the table.
Michel said Kibaki and Odinga were both ready to find a political
solution to the conflict, which has inflamed ethnic tensions and
led to the deaths of more than 600 people.
"There is a just and acute recognition that they must negotiate
and find a solution," he said.
Odinga has accused Kibaki of manipulating the hotly-contested
December 27 elections and has called for a recount and for the
president to step down.
Local and international election observers have said the vote was
flawed and it was impossible to tell who won, with rigging on both
sides.
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