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JK meets Kibaki, Odinga as opposition calls off protests
2008-02-28 10:09:06
By Guardian Reporter and Agencies
President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday started a tough job of reviving stalled talks between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga in his capacity as the African Union chairman in a bid to reconcile the two leaders.
A statement issued by the State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday said that President Kikwete has been satisfied with the negotiations process, though he was still of the view that more efforts were needed for the two parties to reach consensus.
It said that the AU Chairman is optimistic that ``nothing is impossible and that the current political crisis in Kenya will amicably be resolved.``
Meanwhile, Kenya`s opposition yesterday called off street protests to try and force a power-sharing deal, while President Mwai Kibaki said he would create the prime minister`s post that his rivals have been seeking.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga and Kibaki have come under pressure both at home and abroad to compromise over Kibaki`s disputed re-election in a Dec. 27 vote, which sparked ethnic violence that killed 1,000 people and displaced 300,000.
Fears of further violence grew when Odinga`s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) last week said they would take to the streets again, exerting the last real leverage they have over political talks between government and opposition negotiators.
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