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Annan push to broker Kenya peace Annan leads Kenyan crisis talks
(30 minutes later)
Former UN chief Kofi Annan has begun a new push to broker a deal between the Kenyan government and opposition, in attempts to end spiralling violence. Former UN chief Kofi Annan has begun a new push to broker a deal between the Kenyan government and opposition, in an attempt to end spiralling violence.
Mr Annan opened the talks flanked by President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who says Mr Kibaki stole victory in December's polls. Mr Annan opened talks with President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who says Mr Kibaki robbed him of victory in December's polls.
Mr Annan will present the leaders with a "route-map" for talks, which the BBC's Adam Mynott says may last weeks. Mr Annan will present the leaders with a "route-map" for talks, which correspondents say may last weeks.
The talks came as the death of an opposition MP sparked fresh violence.The talks came as the death of an opposition MP sparked fresh violence.
At least four people died as mobs torched houses in a slum in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, after Mugabe Were, from beaten presidential candidate Raila Odinga's ODM party, apparently died in violence triggered by last month's disputed elections. At least seven people were killed on Tuesday in the capital, Nairobi, after Mugabe Were, from Mr Odinga's ODM party, apparently died in violence triggered by last month's disputed elections.
See where main ethnic groups are distributed in Kenya
Meanwhile towns in the Rift Valley also witnessed outbreaks of inter-ethnic fighting.Meanwhile towns in the Rift Valley also witnessed outbreaks of inter-ethnic fighting.
Army helicopters fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a mob of ethnic Kikuyus attacking Luo refugees trying to flee the town of Naivasha.Army helicopters fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a mob of ethnic Kikuyus attacking Luo refugees trying to flee the town of Naivasha.
"There is only one Kenya," said Mr Annan said, "we all have multiple identities but I hope you see yourselves as Kenyans first". Four-week target
He warned that the crisis was having a "profound and negative impact" on the country and urged the two leaders to take the talks seriously or risk losing aid. Opening the talks, Mr Annan said: "There is only one Kenya. We all have multiple identities but I hope you see yourselves as Kenyans first."
He said he believed that short-term political issues could be resolved within four weeks. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7212652.stm">'People are killing each other' class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7213211.stm">Kenya's deep rifts class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7214936.stm">Press rails at politicians He warned that the crisis was having a "profound and negative impact" on the country and urged the two leaders to take the talks seriously or risk losing aid.
He said he believed that short-term political issues could be resolved within four weeks, although more in-depth talks could take as long as a year.
The talks began 90 minutes late, after an argument over seating arrangements.
Speaking after Mr Annan, Mr Odinga stressed that the resolution of the "deeply flawed" results of the presidential elections needed "most urgent attention".
"While our appeal for peace is uncompromising and unconditional, it will have effective meaning if we pledge today that everything will be done to speedily address this specific dispute," he said.
President Kibaki said he strongly condemned incidents of violence, and would "implement stern measures" against "those who disrupt the peace".
He pledged his support to the "process of national dialogue", pledged to provide more police stations and a fund to help victims of the violence.
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