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Stop Kenya burning, says AU head Stop Kenya burning, says AU head
(about 2 hours later)
African leaders at their summit in Ethiopia have been told they must get involved with the crisis in Kenya.African leaders at their summit in Ethiopia have been told they must get involved with the crisis in Kenya.
AU commission chairman Alpha Oumar Konare told them they could not just sit by. "If Kenya burns, there will be nothing for tomorrow," he said. African Union (AU) commission chairman Alpha Oumar Konare told them they could not just sit by. "If Kenya burns, there will be nothing for tomorrow," he said.
More than 850 people have died in political and ethnic clashes since last month's elections, which the opposition says were rigged.More than 850 people have died in political and ethnic clashes since last month's elections, which the opposition says were rigged.
In Nairobi, talks between government and opposition have been postponed.In Nairobi, talks between government and opposition have been postponed.
Substantive negotiations started for the first time on Thursday but were adjourned until Friday after an opposition MP was shot dead by a policeman in the western town of Eldoret.Substantive negotiations started for the first time on Thursday but were adjourned until Friday after an opposition MP was shot dead by a policeman in the western town of Eldoret.
I call on the Kenyan people: stop the killings and end the violence now before it's too late Ban Ki-moonUN Secretary General Tension after MP shot deadTrapped in a fracturing Kenya
The police say the killing was a domestic dispute but the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) says he was assassinated.The police say the killing was a domestic dispute but the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) says he was assassinated.
The death of David Too has raised tensions in Eldoret, the scene of serious violence this month.The death of David Too has raised tensions in Eldoret, the scene of serious violence this month.
Mr Konare - the AU's top executive - said it was the AU's duty to support the mediation process which is led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Mr Konare - the AU's top executive - said it was the AU's duty to support the mediation process.
"Kenya is a country that was a hope for the continent," he said.
"Today, if you look at Kenya you see violence on the streets. We are even talking about ethnic cleansing. We are even talking about genocide.
"We cannot sit here with our hands folded."
'Special responsibility''Special responsibility'
The current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Kenyan leaders to find a peaceful way out. The peace talks in Nairobi are being led by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The second killing of an MP belonging to Orange Democratic Movement is part of a plot to reduce our majority in parliament Raila OdingaOpposition leader class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7219461.stm">Tension after MP shot dead class="" href="/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7218355.stm">Trapped in a fracturing Kenya "President [Mwai] Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga... have a special responsibility to solve the crisis peacefully," he told the summit. His successor, Ban Ki-moon - who is also at the AU summit - urged Kenyan leaders to find a peaceful way out.
Violence first broke out after the 27 December presidential elections, which the opposition Orange Democratic Movement says Mr Kibaki's government rigged. "President [Mwai] Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga... have a special responsibility to solve the crisis peacefully," he told the summit.
Mr Kibaki is among more than 40 leaders present at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, even though the ODM called on the AU not to recognise him. "I call on the Kenyan people: stop the killings and end the violence now before it's too late."
Mr Odinga, by contrast, has not been invited. He said he would go to Kenya himself this week to help with the talks.
All eyes Violence first broke out after the 27 December presidential elections, which the ODM says Mr Kibaki's government rigged.
The BBC's Will Ross, reporting from the conference, says all eyes will be on Mr Kibaki.
President Mwai Kibaki is at the summit despite opposition protestsPresident Mwai Kibaki is at the summit despite opposition protests
He says Mr Kibaki is likely to brief at least some of the African leaders on events in Kenya, especially the talks between government and opposition. Mr Kibaki is among more than 40 leaders present at the AU summit in Addis Ababa, even though the ODM called on the AU not to recognise him.
The Kenyan crisis may then be pushed away, which could be convenient for an organisation which often struggles to tackle the continent's problems with any great urgency, he says. Mr Odinga, by contrast, has not been invited.
Despite Mr Konare's plea, the official theme of the AU summit is industrialisation.Despite Mr Konare's plea, the official theme of the AU summit is industrialisation.
But other subjects are likely to includeBut other subjects are likely to include
  • Sudan, where the AU and the UN have promised to create the world's largest peacekeeping force in Darfur
  • Somalia, where members are keen to strengthen the small Ugandan and Burundian forces in the country, and
  • the AU's own internal organisation
  • Sudan, where the AU and the UN have promised to create the world's largest peacekeeping force in Darfur
  • Somalia, where members are keen to strengthen the small Ugandan and Burundian forces in the country
  • the AU's own internal organisation
Our correspondent says many Africans hope other urgent issues such as Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be tackled. The BBC's Will Ross, who is at the summit, says many Africans hope other urgent issues such as Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be tackled.
Are you in Kenya? Have you been affected by the violence? Tell us what is happening where you are by using the form below:
Name
Are you in Kenya? Have you been affected by the violence? Tell us what is happening where you are by using the form below: Name