This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7270379.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Kenyans celebrate historic deal Kenyans celebrate historic deal
(about 1 hour later)
Kenyans have been celebrating the power-sharing deal to end the country's two-month political crisis.Kenyans have been celebrating the power-sharing deal to end the country's two-month political crisis.
Thousands of dancing and cheering people poured onto the streets of Kisumu, the home town of opposition leader Raila Odinga.Thousands of dancing and cheering people poured onto the streets of Kisumu, the home town of opposition leader Raila Odinga.
He is set to become prime minister in a coalition with President Mwai Kibaki.He is set to become prime minister in a coalition with President Mwai Kibaki.
The deal to end the crisis which saw some 1,500 people killed and 600,000 left homeless has also been warmly welcomed elsewhere in the country.The deal to end the crisis which saw some 1,500 people killed and 600,000 left homeless has also been warmly welcomed elsewhere in the country.
Mr Odinga and Mr Kibaki signed a power-sharing agreement, brokered by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in the capital, Nairobi, on Thursday.Mr Odinga and Mr Kibaki signed a power-sharing agreement, brokered by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in the capital, Nairobi, on Thursday.
Negotiations between the government and opposition lasted more than a month, stalling several times. I feel confident that the experience we have gone through has been a teacher ODM's Raila Odinga class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7269769.stm">Deal offers fresh hope
Negotiations between the government and opposition, which lasted more than a month, stalling several times, are to resume on Friday morning to discuss long-term reform of land ownership, the economy and the constitution.
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says there is a huge sense of relief that a deal to end the country's most damaging crisis since independence 48 years ago has been signed, but also some nervousness about how lingering resentment from weeks of unrest will be defused.
ReliefRelief
Mr Odinga told the BBC he wanted fresh elections within two years. Mr Odinga said the coalition was similar to the agreement between former East and West Germany, but with power-sharing on an equal basis.
He said the deal he signed with Mr Kibaki gave him genuine powers as prime minister, and there was agreement to fast-track amendments to the constitution so that he could take up office as soon as possible. POWER-SHARING DEAL New two-party coalition government to be set upCabinet posts to be divided equally between partiesRaila Odinga to take new post of prime minister, can only be dismissed by National AssemblyTwo new deputy PMs to be appointed, one from each member of coalition class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7269476.stm">Agreement: More detail class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7269500.stm">Reaction in quotes
POWER-SHARING DEAL New two-party coalition government to be set upCabinet posts to be divided equally between partiesRaila Odinga to take new post of prime minister, can only be dismissed by National AssemblyTwo new deputy PMs to be appointed, one from each member of coalition class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7269476.stm">Agreement: More detail class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7269500.stm">Reaction in quotes class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7269769.stm">Deal offers fresh hope The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says there is a huge sense of relief that a deal to end the country's most damaging crisis since independence 48 years ago has been signed, but also some nervousness about how lingering resentment from weeks of unrest will be defused. "It means we recognise Mr Kibaki as president and he recognises that there were some flaws in the elections," he told the BBC.
Mr Odinga said he was robbed of victory in December's polls. He said the agreement was just a piece of paper - the most important thing was the will behind it.
He said he would push through reforms so the horrors of the past eight weeks could not be repeated - get rid of, he said, the ugly face of ethnicity in the country. And, he said, the coalition had a lot of work to do - constitutional and legal reforms as well as land reforms to address what he called "historical injustices".
The post-election violence saw thousands of people targeted because they belonged to ethnic groups seen as either pro-government or pro-opposition. "You have seen the ugly face of ethnic confrontation in our country. I feel confident that the experience we have gone through has been a teacher and everyone is going to ensure that this coalition does succeed."
He hoped for a new constitution within a year and fresh elections within two as Mr Annan had given the coalition a maximum life of two years, after which it should be reviewed.
"If we have completed everything else we will go for elections. It will depend on the pace at which we work," Mr Odinga said.
CompromiseCompromise
The new coalition will be headed by President Kibaki, with Mr Odinga - whose Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is the largest in parliament - set to take the newly created post of prime minister.The new coalition will be headed by President Kibaki, with Mr Odinga - whose Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is the largest in parliament - set to take the newly created post of prime minister.
Compromise was necessary for the survival of this country Kofi Annan class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY After 8 weeks of uncertainty in the political atmosphere as well as peace, there is somehow a glimpse of hope and light to the beautiful land of Kenya.Edward, Nairobi class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1=4382">Send us your comments
Each party will nominate a deputy prime minister, with other ministerial portfolios being divided equally between the two parties.Each party will nominate a deputy prime minister, with other ministerial portfolios being divided equally between the two parties.
Correspondents say both parties are now likely to begin wrangling over who gets what position in the new government, with the post of finance minister likely to prove the most contentious.Correspondents say both parties are now likely to begin wrangling over who gets what position in the new government, with the post of finance minister likely to prove the most contentious.
After the deal was reached, Mr Annan said: "Compromise was necessary for the survival of this country."After the deal was reached, Mr Annan said: "Compromise was necessary for the survival of this country."
He urged all Kenyans to support the agreement, saying: "The job of national reconciliation and national reconstruction is not for the leaders alone. It must be carried out in every neighbourhood, village, hamlet of the nation."He urged all Kenyans to support the agreement, saying: "The job of national reconciliation and national reconstruction is not for the leaders alone. It must be carried out in every neighbourhood, village, hamlet of the nation."
'New chapter' Speaking after the signing, Mr Kibaki said: "This process has reminded us that as a nation there are more issues that unite than that divide us.
Speaking after the signing, Mr Kibaki said: "This process has reminded us that as a nation there are more issues that unite than that divide us... "We've been reminded we must do all in our power to safeguard the peace that is the foundation of our national unity... Kenya has room for all of us."
HAVE YOUR SAY After 8 weeks of uncertainty in the political atmosphere as well as peace, there is somehow a glimpse of hope and light to the beautiful land of Kenya.Edward, NairobiSend us your comments "We've been reminded we must do all in our power to safeguard the peace that is the foundation of our national unity... Kenya has room for all of us."
Mr Odinga said: "With the signing of this agreement, we have opened a new chapter in our country's history - from the era or phase of confrontation to the beginning of co-operation.
"We, on our side, are completely committed to ensuring that this agreement will succeed."
Both men thanked those who had stood by Kenya in what Mr Odinga called its "hour of need", including Mr Annan, the African Union, the European Union, the United States and the UN.Both men thanked those who had stood by Kenya in what Mr Odinga called its "hour of need", including Mr Annan, the African Union, the European Union, the United States and the UN.
They also urged Kenyans to move forward together without ethnic divisions.They also urged Kenyans to move forward together without ethnic divisions.