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Kenya peace talks reach impasse
BBCnews
Monday, 25 February 2008
Talks aimed at ending the political crisis in Kenya have stalled,
forcing mediator Kofi Annan to intervene.
He is to seek the input of President Mwai Kibaki and rival Raila
Odinga in an attempt to salvage the process.
Negotiators from Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement and the
government disagree on the powers to be granted to a proposed new
post of prime minister.
Police have increased their estimate of the death toll of
post-election clashes and now say at least 1,500 have died.
Another 300,000 others were displaced in the violence following
the 27 December poll.
The opposition ODM has threatened to relaunch mass protests on
Thursday if a political deal is not reached, while a lawyers'
group says it wants to see a resolution by the end of the week.
Leverage
Mr Odinga, who insists victory was stolen from him, arrived at the
venue of talks and left after a brief meeting with Mr Annan.
On many of the issues that are outstanding, we are unable to
agree
- William Ruto - ODM
negotiator -
"We have isolated a number of issues which now require our
chairman to consult with the principals," Mutula Kilonzo, a
representative of the government, told reporters.
Both parties walked away from the venue of the talks after new
proposals were raised, sources told the BBC.
"On many of the issues that are outstanding, we are unable to
agree, so they have been referred to the principals in the hope
that they enjoy greater leverage and can be able to thrash out
those issues," said William Ruto, of the ODM.
Power-sharing
The ODM and government negotiators were due to fine-tune an
agreement that would usher in a new power-sharing arrangement.
The incoming African Union commission chairman, Jean Ping, who
held talks with President Kibaki and Mr Annan, hinted last week
that a deal would be announced early this week.
Both parties have agreed in principle on the creation of a prime
minister's position, which would be taken by Mr Odinga.
As well as how to divide powers between a prime minister and a
president, they are also split on sharing on cabinet positions and
the possibility of a new election if the coalition collapses.
'Impatient'
Pressure is mounting on both Mr Kibaki's Party of National Unity (PNU)
and the ODM to agree to a power-sharing settlement that would end
the political crisis.
"We share the impatience on the expectations of the outcome of the
Annan-led talks. We would like to see a consensus reached between
the two parties by the end of the week," said Tom Ojienda,
president of the influential East African Law Society.
But some pro-government leaders have cautioned the government
against rushing for a quick-fix deal, with some pushing for the
final agreement to be put to a referendum for public endorsement.
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