African Union chief fails to broker Kenya deal

Kufuor quit Kenya today without a deal to end the political crisis

African Union chairperson John Kufuor quit Kenya today without a deal to end a political crisis that has killed 500 people, leaving the president and opposition leader accusing each other of wrecking talks.

Kufuor, Ghana's President, said both sides agreed to work together with an African panel headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. But President Mwai Kibaki and opposition chief Raila Odinga neither met nor agreed how to end the crisis.

Controversy over Kibaki's re-election in a December 27 vote triggered bloodletting that displaced 250 000 people, dented the stable reputation of east Africa's biggest economy and disrupted supplies to nearby countries.

Odinga says Kibaki rigged the election.

Kufuor, Washington's top Africa diplomat Jendayi Frazer and the envoys of France and Britain met Odinga on Thursday as they piled pressure on him and on Kibaki to reach a deal.

Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) distributed the text of an agreement to re-examine the flawed elections, and hold fresh polls if needed. But it said Kibaki had refused to sign.

"It is true to his character and can only be treated with the contempt it deserves," said ODM Secretary General Anyang' Nyong'o. "This is a slap in the face ... to the (AU) mission and the international community," he said.

Kibaki's office accused the ODM of blocking negotiations.

"The government had offered dialogue which was to be facilitated by President John Kufuor but Orange Democratic Movement leaders have not been responsive," said a statement from Kibaki's office.

Kufuor put a brave face on his two-day mission.

"The parties agreed to work together with a panel of eminent African personalities headed by Mr Kofi Annan ... towards resolving their differences and all other outstanding issues including constitutional and electoral reforms," he said.

"Both sides agreed there should be an end to the violence and they also agreed there should be dialogue," he told reporters as he left for the airport.

Teargas
In a sign tensions were still high after two weeks of violence, riot police fired teargas at around 70 pro-opposition women who marched and blocked a road in a Nairobi suburb.

Some women lay down, stripped to their bras and shouted "Shame on you" at police who tapped their batons on their plastic shields, then fired teargas to disperse the women, including one clutching a small baby to her bosom as she fled.

Previously regarded as a gentlemanly leader with a passion for golf, Kibaki has shown a steely side to Odinga, a former political prisoner and wealthy business owner who helped Kibaki win a 2002 poll but was sacked from government in 2005.

Kibaki has insisted the poll results stand despite inviting Odinga to direct talks tomorrow -- an offer the opposition leader has dismissed unless it is internationally mediated.

Behind closed doors, Kibaki watched the swearing-in of a core cabinet whose appointment on Tuesday prompted more violence in Nairobi slums and western towns dominated by Odinga.

The US State Department said Frazer had expressed displeasure to Kibaki over the step, but said the Kenyan president had told Frazer it was intended only to keep the government running during a negotiated settlement.

Kenya's state-funded National Commission on Human Rights presented a petition to police on Thursday demanding a criminal investigation into alleged abuses by the electoral commission.

Washington and Britain have both said the poll was flawed.

Both Kibaki's and Odinga's parties say they will be able to mobilise a majority in parliament. Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement has threatened to occupy the government side of the chamber when parliament opens on January 15.

The official death toll from election-related political and ethnic violence is 486, although aid workers put it at more than 500, and the opposition say the toll could be nearer 1 000. - Reuters