Interactive guide to the
crisis
James Orr and agencies
Tuesday January 8, 2008
Guardian Unlimited
Kenya's opposition leader today said he
would not meet President Mwai Kibaki to try
to address the country's growing political
upheaval.
Raila Odinga rejected a government offer for
bilateral talks to end a wave of violence
that has killed about 500 people across the
east African state.
Ghana's president, John Kufuor, chairman of
the African Union, is due to arrive in Kenya
today to try to meet Odinga and Kibaki.
He hopes to bring the two leaders together
to help quell the week of riots and
reprisals since Kibaki's disputed
re-election last month.
Today, however, Odinga dismissed the
proposed talks, which Kibaki has chosen not
to invite Kufuor to, as a "sideshow".
He told a news conference: "We will not
attend the talks on Friday. They are a
sideshow."
"We want to engage in the negotiations under
Mr Kufuor with utmost seriousness to make
sure no stone remains unturned in the search
for electoral justice."
Odinga accused Kibaki of trying to divert
attention from Kufuor's mission by offering
bilateral talks.
"Clearly, he is extremely worried about an
independent, international review of the
election outcome," Odinga said.
"Mr Kibaki's response to my appeal for peace
was to produce a public relations gimmick.
"Clearly, Mr Kibaki is still trying to
deflect attention from, and undermine, the
internationally agreed and structured
negotiations."
Kibaki, who has offered to form a government
of national unity with the opposition, is
reluctant to accept mediation. Kenyan
officials have said Kufuor will leave the
country after barely 24 hours.
Authorities say hundreds of people have died
in ethnic clashes and battles with police
since the December 27 election, which was
won by Kibaki despite Odinga looking
destined for victory.
Local and international observers have said
that irregularities at the tallying stage,
which appeared to mainly favour Kibaki,
meant the poll result was not credible.
Odinga has rejected the announced result and
says Kibaki's swearing-in as president,
which took place in bizarre circumstances
less than hour after the result was
announced, was illegitimate.
After meeting Jendayi Frazer, the US
assistant secretary of state, who is in
Nairobi for talks yesterday, Odinga
cancelled the mass action planned for cities
across the country today, saying he had been
given assurances that the African Union-led
mediation was about to start.
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