Annan Says Kenyan Parties Agree on Roadmap Toward Ending Violence
By VOA News
01 February 2008
Kofi Annan, left, with Ban Ki-moon in Nairobi, 01 Feb 2008
The parties of Kenya＇s feuding political leaders have agreed on a joint plan to end the post-election violence that has killed some 850 people.
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the sides have agreed on a four-point framework for the talks he is leading in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Annan says the two sides believe they can deal with the first three items within 15 days. He says those priorities include immediate action to end the violence, addressing Kenya＇s humanitarian crisis, and resolving the political crisis that triggered the violence.
There were no immediate details on how the sides would handle those problems or would deal with the fourth agenda point, a long-term solution to Kenya＇s political tensions.
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga accuses President Mwai Kibaki of rigging last month＇s presidential election. Protests that exploded after the election have since degenerated into tribal violence.
The latest violence in western Kenya has left at least nine people dead. Eight of those killed died Thursday during ethnic clashes in the western Nyamira district. Police Friday said the victims were either hacked to death or killed with poisoned arrows.
In another incident, a mob estimated at 3,000 people killed a police officer in the village of Anaimoi, the hometown of an opposition lawmaker, David Too, who was shot dead on Thursday.
In Nairobi Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Kenyans to stop the violence. He urged Kenyan leaders to look past personal and partisan interests to resolve the bitter dispute over last month＇s presidential election.
In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Friday, Mr. Kibaki again called on the opposition to go to court if it wants to challenge the results. The opposition has rejected that idea in the past, saying the courts are loaded with Mr. Kibaki＇s allies.
The president also accused the opposition of igniting Kenya＇s civil unrest. He insisted that the security situation in his country is "under control."
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