Kofi Annan suspends negotiations in Kenya impasse
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2008 09:25
Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga are yet to reach agreement in Nairobi
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Hopes for an end to Kenya's ongoing political crisis suffered a major setback yesterday when negotiation talks were suspended.
Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, leading the dialogue between the two sides, said he hoped the move would accelerate the search for a short-term solution to the standoff.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga is challenging the result of the December 27th 2007 victory which narrowly handed victory to incumbent president Mwai Kibaki.
Allegations of electoral fraud triggered mass violence in Kenya throughout January and February, much of which has been based on ethnic lines.
Over 1,000 people have been killed so far, although violence has declined in recent weeks.
There had been hopes of a breakthrough in crisis talks begun last month by Mr Annan but none have come to fruition.
A strongly-worded statement by US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice added pressure to Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga to reach a solution soon.
"I want to emphasise that the future of our relationship with both sides and their legitimacy hinges on their cooperation to achieve this political solution," she said.
"There can also be no excuse for violence, and those responsible must be held accountable."