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Annan leads Kenyan crisis talks Annan leads Kenyan crisis talks
(about 1 hour later)
Former UN chief Kofi Annan has opened talks with Kenya's rival president and opposition leader, to try to end weeks of violence linked to disputed polls.Former UN chief Kofi Annan has opened talks with Kenya's rival president and opposition leader, to try to end weeks of violence linked to disputed polls.
Mr Annan, flanked by President Mwai Kibaki and ODM party leader Raila Odinga, urged the two men to do "whatever possible" to restore calm.Mr Annan, flanked by President Mwai Kibaki and ODM party leader Raila Odinga, urged the two men to do "whatever possible" to restore calm.
Mr Annan said short-term political issues could be solved in four weeks, but full talks could take a year.Mr Annan said short-term political issues could be solved in four weeks, but full talks could take a year.
The talks came as the death of an opposition MP sparked fresh violence. The talks came after the death of an opposition MP sparked fresh violence.
At least seven people were killed on Tuesday in the capital, Nairobi, after Mugabe Were, from Mr Odinga's ODM party, apparently died in the city in violence triggered by last month's disputed elections. There is only one Kenya - we all have multiple identities but I hope you see yourselves as Kenyans first Kofi AnnanFormer UN Secretary General class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7215225.stm">In pictures: Kenya violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7214843.stm">At-a-glance: Flashpoints class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7216147.stm">MP mourners tear-gassed At least nine people died on Tuesday in outbreaks of violence after Mugabe Were, from Mr Odinga's ODM party, was shot on Monday night.
At least one person died in the Rift Valley town of Naivasha.
Army helicopters fired tear gas and what they said were rubber bullets at a mob of ethnic Kikuyus attacking Luo refugees trying to flee the town.
Members of President Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe have been fighting with Luos and Kalenjins, who backed Mr Odinga in December's poll.
See where main ethnic groups are distributed in Kenya See where main ethnic groups are distributed in Kenya
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."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."
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. href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7215225.stm">In pictures: Kenya violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7214843.stm">At-a-glance: Flashpoints class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7216147.stm">MP mourners tear-gassed
The talks began 90 minutes late, after an argument over seating arrangements. 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.
Speaking after Mr Annan, Mr Odinga stressed that the resolution of the "deeply flawed" results of the presidential elections needed "most urgent attention".Speaking after Mr Annan, Mr Odinga stressed that the resolution of the "deeply flawed" results of the presidential elections needed "most urgent attention".
Mr Odinga has launched street protests against Mr Kibaki's victory in the polls. Both sides claim the voting was rigged, and international observers have listed several irregularities. Mr Odinga has launched street protests against Mr Kibaki's victory in the polls, during which international observers noted several irregularities.
"I seek to be president of all Kenyans. Their deaths and suffering horrifies me," he said. "I seek to be president of all Kenyans," he said.
Mr Annan and the two leaders drank tea together after the talks"I will leave no stone unturned, nor fail to travel that extra mile to ensure that His Excellency Kofi Annan's mediation mission between the PNU [Kibaki's Party of National Unity] and the ODM succeeds. And I emphasise PNU and ODM - not PNU 'government'." "I will leave no stone unturned... to ensure that... Kofi Annan's mediation mission between the PNU [Kibaki's Party of National Unity] and the ODM succeeds. And I emphasise PNU and ODM - not PNU 'government'."
President Kibaki said he strongly condemned incidents of violence, and would "implement stern measures" against "those who disrupt the peace".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. He pledged to support mediation attempts, provide more police stations and create a fund for victims of the violence.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed support for the mediation process and said the situation in Kenya was "deeply concerning".
'Foul hand''Foul hand'
Mr Were is the first leading politician to have died amid violence that has left at least 800 people dead.Mr Were is the first leading politician to have died amid violence that has left at least 800 people dead.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Kofi Annan has a lot to achieve, as large swathes of the country are beyond the control of security forces. Kibaki and Raila owe Kenyans an answerBen, Nairobi class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=2=4165">Send us your commentsTwo gunmen shot the MP as he drove up to the gate of his house in the capital just after midnight, Kenya police spokesman Eric Kiraithe was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying. 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 A spokesman for the police said they were treating the incident as a murder, but were not ruling out political motives.
He said the police were treating the incident as a murder, but not ruling out anything, including political motives. Earlier, Mr Kibaki condemned what he described as the "heinous" killing.
Mr Were, who represented Nairobi's Embakasai district, won a seat in the 27 December legislative election, which was held at the same time as the presidential vote. Mr Odinga said his party suspected the "foul hand of our adversaries" in the attack.
Earlier, Mr Kibaki condemned what he described as the "heinous" killing, but urged Kenyans not to jump to conclusions about who had carried it out.
Mr Odinga pointed the finger at the government. "We suspect a foul hand of our adversaries in this," he said.
Outside Mr Were's Nairobi home, tear gas was fired at mourners and supporters who reportedly taunted police.Outside Mr Were's Nairobi home, tear gas was fired at mourners and supporters who reportedly taunted police.
Elsewhere, at least two people died in the Rift Valley town of Naivasha, where army helicopters fired tear gas and what they said were rubber bullets at a mob of ethnic Kikuyus attacking Luo refugees trying to flee the town.
In Nairobi, at least seven people died in the slums of Kibera and Mathare as crowds of youths from rival ethnic communities fought each other with machetes and clubs.
ResentmentResentment
Some analysts fear a cycle of ethnically-driven revenge and reprisal attacks has taken on a momentum of its own, says the BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi. Some analysts fear a cycle of ethnically-driven revenge and reprisal attacks has taken on a momentum of its own.
The initial violence that broke out after the 27 December poll was characterised by mob attacks largely targeting Kibaki's Kikuyu ethnic group. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Kofi Annan has a lot to achieve, as large swathes of the country are beyond the control of security forcesBen, Nairobi class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=2=4165">Send us your commentsMembers of President Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe have been fighting with Luos and Kalenjins, who backed Mr Odinga in the 27 December poll. The initial violence was characterised by mob attacks largely targeting Mr Kibaki's Kikuyu ethnic group.
ODM protesters, often armed with machetes, were met with heavy police responses, including live gunfire. And ODM protesters, often armed with machetes, were shot at by police.
In recent days, Kikuyu reprisal attacks have become increasingly common. Ethnic divisions over land, wealth and power have dogged Kenyan politics since independence in 1963. But in recent days, Kikuyu reprisal attacks have become increasingly common.
There is widespread resentment over the economic power some Kikuyus hold. Mr Kibaki has maintained that Mr Odinga should fight the claimed poll rigging in the courts and offered to form a government of national unity. Ethnic divisions over land, wealth and power have dogged Kenyan politics since independence in 1963. There is widespread resentment over the economic power some Kikuyus hold.
Mr Odinga has refused to recognise Mr Kibaki as president and called for a re-run of the poll and international mediation. Mr Kibaki says Mr Odinga should fight his case in the courts and has offered to form a government of national unity.
Mr Odinga has refused to recognise Mr Kibaki as president and called for a re-run of the poll.
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