afrol News, 6 February - The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has briefed Security Council on the crisis in Kenya, holding President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga responsible for the country's future.

He said the two leaders would be "personally accountable" for Kenya's future.

“I told Kenya’s leaders, President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, that they bear a particular political responsibility for the future of Kenya," UN chief told the council.

"I stressed to all the Kenyan leaders the need to stop the unacceptable violence and killings and to resolve their differences through dialogue and the democratic process."

He called on the two sides to value the future of Kenya instead of considering individual or party interested.

“As I warned at the African Union summit last week, ethnic clashes threaten to escalate out of control,” Mr Ban said.

UN chief also briefed the council on the world body's support for the mediation process led by Kofi Annan. He said the UN established a trust fund as well as assign several staff to support relief and other services in Kenya.

The two sides resume their talks, which according to Mr Annan, would be devoid of individual issues. He said the talks would center on how to strengthen institutions.

“I reiterate my support to the mediation efforts of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities led by former Secretary-General

Kofi Annan. When I met him in Nairobi, we discussed in depth his roadmap for the talks. The parties are now talking and discussing practical measures to stop the spiral of violence, to address the humanitarian crisis, and to restore fundamental human rights and liberties,” he said.

He said the UN and its partners were able to meet the initial basic needs of about 310,000 people displaced by the looming political unrest over the results of 27 December polls.

“I am going to dispatch Mr John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to look after these issues. Needless to say, much more needs to be done. I urge donors to provide additional funding to address this grave emergency,” said Mr Ban.

On Monday, a top mediator has pulled out of the Kenya talks after the government had doubted his impartiality because of his business links with the opposition.

South African businessman and former executive member of the governing African National Congress, Cyril Ramaphosa, denied the allegations. He was appointed as a chief specialist by Mr Annan.

South African government had "strongly rejected" the Kenyan government’s allegations against Mr Ramaphosa.

South African Deputy Foreign Minister, Aziz Pahad, said his government would only recognise Kibaki’s election victory provided the election dispute is resolved.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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