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24 January, 2008
NAIROBI (AFP) - Kenya's feuding leaders shook hands and smiled Thursday after a landmark first meeting brought about by former UN chief Kofi Annan, a month after disputed presidential polls.
President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga spoke to reporters as they stood together next to Annan in a symbolic gesture after weeks of violence sparked by the disputed election, in which close to 800 people died.
Annan described the meeting as "a very encouraging development."
"I think we began to take the first steps towards a peaceful solution of the problem and you can see the two leaders are here to underline their engagement to dialogue," the former UN secretary general said, speaking outside the downtown president's office.
Kibaki has insisted on direct talks with Odinga, who had refused to meet without the presence of a mediator.
The opposition leader, who claims he was robbed of victory in the December 27 polls, made no reference to the vote and called for patience.
"We have taken the first vital steps in resolving electoral disputes," Odinga told reporters."I ask everyone to be patient and uphold peace in a spirit of brotherhood."
Kibaki underlined his victory in the closely-fought elections -- which drew criticism from international observers -- and called for peace.
"After being sworn in as your duly elected president of Kenya, I will personally lead our country in promoting unity, tolerance peace and harmony," he said.
Annan, who arrived in Kenya late Tuesday after several failed attempts to unblock the stalemate, warned that the continuing low-level violence had to stop, after 12 deaths were reported overnight in the latest clashes.
"Some of the reports reaching me from some other parts of the country are not so good as violence continues and the same people are being attacked," he said.
After a police crackdown on opposition demonstrations last week, Annan said measures would be taken in response to "the excessive use of force by the police."
It was unclear what the next step would be, but Annan underlined that "time is of the essence".
Police said Thursday that eight people had been hacked to death in tribal violence near the western Kenyan town of Nakuru, raising the overnight death toll to 12.
Annan on Wednesday convinced Odinga to call off new protest rallies scheduled for the next day after deadly clashes sparked by similar banned demonstrations last week.
What started as largely political unrest has transformed into tribal rivalries and led to looting and some infrastructure sabotage, shattering the economy and now threatening the stability of the east African nation.
Some quarter of a million people have been displaced.
Human Rights Watch earlier accused opposition officials of inciting clashes in the western Rift Valley, scene of some of the worst violence.
"Attacks by several ethnic communities against others, especially local Kikuyu populations (Kibaki's tribe), were planned soon after the elections," HRW said in a statement.
"In some cases, local leaders and opposition politicians appear to have incited and organised the violence."
The opposition rejected the accusation.
"We would like to see concrete evidence," said Salim Lone, spokesman for Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
He warned that the claims could harm the latest international attempt to mediate the crisis.
Meanwhile calls increased Thursday for both sides to end the clashes.
"Politicians should commit to stop exploiting tribal divisions to build their power," said a statement from global charity ActionAid, which runs numerous programmes across Kenya.
The Roman Catholic Church also appealed to the leaders to stop the fighting.
"No more arrogance, no more incitement of an open and hidden nature," pleaded Cardinal John Njue in a statement signed by every Kenyan Catholic bishop.
The Electoral Commission of Kenya rejected claims it rigged the tightly-fought polls in favour of Kibaki in a statement in the daily newspapers.
"The ECK determines the winner of the presidential elections on the basis of the final tally. In this regard, Mwai Kibaki was pronounced winner...," said a statement, adding that the panel had repeatedly expressed willingness to review results with either party.