afrol News, 18 February - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is Kenya where she is holding talks with rival political groups to accept a power sharing agreement.

Rice was briefed by the lead mediator, Kofi Annan, about the progress of the talks.

Prior to meeting Kenya leaders, President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga in the capital Nairobi, Rice said a coalition was needed to that Kenya can be governed.

Both the government and opposition on Friday agreed to set up an independent panel to review the disputed December presidential poll results. The committee is expected to begin business on 15 March and present its report between three to six months.

The dispute led to a wave of political and ethnic unrest, resulting to the killing of 1,000 people and displacement of over half a million others.

Ms Rice had commenced Mr Annan for his successful mediation efforts, but she said there is an urgent need of a power-sharing government in the East African country.

"There has clearly been progress and that is in large part I think to the fact that these are leaders of the Kenyan people who want to move forward," she said in a statement.

"There needs to be a governance arrangement that will allow real power-sharing, that will allow a coalition, indeed a grand coalition, so that Kenya can be governed."

The US official reiterated the statement of international diplomats that the disputed election did not produce "an outcome that can lead to the governance of Kenya."

"So now that outcome has to be produced by negotiation and goodwill."

Mr Annan dispelled claims that the international community was on the verge of imposing a solution to address the deadlock.

"We encourage our friends to support us and not make any mistake of putting a gun to anybody's head and saying 'either/or', because that cannot work," Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula warned on Sunday.

"Even if we get visitors to help us in any way possible, the answer to the problem in Kenya lies with Kenyans themselves."

"We are there, we are very close, we are moving steadily," Mr Annan had earlier confirmed.

The two sides also agreed to draft a new constitution within a year. The new constitution is expected to create the position of Prime Minister.

Talks resume on Tuesday.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories