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Kenyan political Leaders clinch
a deal to end violence
From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Nairobi,
Kenya
Nairobi, Jan. 10, Ghanadot/GNA - The Kenyan Government and
the main opposition political party, the Orange Democratic
Movement (ODM) on Thursday clinched a deal to ease the
stalemate and violence over the country's disputed
presidential election.
President Mwai Kibaki and the ODM's Leader Raila Odinga
agreed on interim measures pending the search for a lasting
solution.
This softening of positions followed intense diplomatic
efforts led by President John Agyekum Kufuor, Chairman of
the African Union (UN). Mr Odinga had earlier refused to
meet President Kibaki face to face.
In a communiqué issued at the end of their face-to-face
meeting held at the Parliament House in Nairobi, the first,
since election violence broke out after the Kenyan Leader's
re-election declaration, they pledged to dialogue under the
auspices of the AU; immediate cessation of hostilities and
to do away with any act likely to jeopardise peaceful
resolution of the crisis.
Again, they affirmed their commitment to work with Panel of
Eminent African Personalities, to be headed by Ghana's
celebrated diplomat and Former United Nations (UN) Secretary
General, Busumuru Kofi Annan to deal with all sticky issues
including Constitutional arrangements.
President Kufuor appealed to all Kenyans as well as friends
and partners of Kenya to support the process of
reconciliation to restore it to peace and stability.
This, he said, was necessary to sustain the development of
the country, once hailed as a model of stability.
Kenya, East Africa's economic powerhouse has been plunged
into political turmoil as protests over Mr Kibaki's
re-election snowballed into nasty ethnic clashes that had
killed more than 300 and displaced tens of thousands of
people.
To help to salvage the situation, the Kenyan Leader sought
the assistance of President Kufuor to mediate and to help
them to find a common ground to begin the process of
reconciliation.
GNA
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