GNA: Kufuor Clinches Deal In Kenya

Kenyan political Leaders clinch a deal to end violence

Nairobi, Jan. 10, GNA - The Kenyan Government and the main opposition political party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Thursday clinched a deal to ease the stalemate and violence over the country's disputed presidential election.

President Mwai Kibaki and the ODM's Leader Raila Odinga agreed on interim measures pending the search for a lasting solution. This softening of positions followed intense diplomatic efforts led by President John Agyekum Kufuor, Chairman of the African Union (UN). Mr Odinga had earlier refused to meet President Kibaki face to face.

In a communique issued at the end of their face-to-face meeting held at the Parliament House in Nairobi, the first, since election violence broke out after the Kenyan Leader's re-election declaration, they pledged to dialogue under the auspices of the AU; immediate cessation of hostilities and to do away with any act likely to jeopardise peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Again, they affirmed their commitment to work with Panel of Eminent African Personalities, to be headed by Ghana's celebrated diplomat and Former United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Busumuru Kofi Annan to deal with all sticky issues including Constitutional arrangements. President Kufuor appealed to all Kenyans as well as friends and partners of Kenya to support the process of reconciliation to restore it to peace and stability.

This, he said, was necessary to sustain the development of the country, once hailed as a model of stability. Kenya, East Africa's economic powerhouse has been plunged into political turmoil as protests over Mr Kibaki's re-election snowballed into nasty ethnic clashes that had killed more than 300 and displaced tens of thousands of people.

To help to salvage the situation, the Kenyan Leader sought the assistance of President Kufuor to mediate and to help them to find a common ground to begin the process of reconciliation.

Kenyan political Leaders clinch a deal to end violence

Nairobi, Jan. 10, GNA - The Kenyan Government and the main opposition political party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Thursday clinched a deal to ease the stalemate and violence over the country's disputed presidential election.

President Mwai Kibaki and the ODM's Leader Raila Odinga agreed on interim measures pending the search for a lasting solution. This softening of positions followed intense diplomatic efforts led by President John Agyekum Kufuor, Chairman of the African Union (UN). Mr Odinga had earlier refused to meet President Kibaki face to face.

In a communique issued at the end of their face-to-face meeting held at the Parliament House in Nairobi, the first, since election violence broke out after the Kenyan Leader's re-election declaration, they pledged to dialogue under the auspices of the AU; immediate cessation of hostilities and to do away with any act likely to jeopardise peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Again, they affirmed their commitment to work with Panel of Eminent African Personalities, to be headed by Ghana's celebrated diplomat and Former United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Busumuru Kofi Annan to deal with all sticky issues including Constitutional arrangements. President Kufuor appealed to all Kenyans as well as friends and partners of Kenya to support the process of reconciliation to restore it to peace and stability.

This, he said, was necessary to sustain the development of the country, once hailed as a model of stability. Kenya, East Africa's economic powerhouse has been plunged into political turmoil as protests over Mr Kibaki's re-election snowballed into nasty ethnic clashes that had killed more than 300 and displaced tens of thousands of people.

To help to salvage the situation, the Kenyan Leader sought the assistance of President Kufuor to mediate and to help them to find a common ground to begin the process of reconciliation.