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| Kenya diplomatic moves intensify | Kenya diplomatic moves intensify |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The chairman of the African Union is due to arrive in Kenya as diplomatic moves to try to end the country's political crisis intensify. | |
| John Kufuor, also Ghana's president, will try to help resolve divisions that erupted after the disputed victory of President Mwai Kibaki in elections. | John Kufuor, also Ghana's president, will try to help resolve divisions that erupted after the disputed victory of President Mwai Kibaki in elections. |
| Opposition head Raila Odinga has said he would only talk with President Kibaki if Mr Kufuor mediated. | |
| Violent clashes since the 27 December election have left 600 people dead. | Violent clashes since the 27 December election have left 600 people dead. |
| 'Gentle giant' | 'Gentle giant' |
| The BBC's Will Ross in Ghana's capital, Accra, says that last week Mr Kufuor's proposed visit was blocked so that his arrival on Tuesday is at least a sign that there has been some progress. | The BBC's Will Ross in Ghana's capital, Accra, says that last week Mr Kufuor's proposed visit was blocked so that his arrival on Tuesday is at least a sign that there has been some progress. |
| We have at least 600 dead... some bodies are still in the bushes where fighting occurred Senior police officer Q&A: Poll violenceAid worker's diary | We have at least 600 dead... some bodies are still in the bushes where fighting occurred Senior police officer Q&A: Poll violenceAid worker's diary |
| Ghana's Minister of Information Oboshie Sai Cofie said Mr Kufuor's role would be more as a facilitator than a mediator - someone to bring the two sides together in a more congenial atmosphere. | Ghana's Minister of Information Oboshie Sai Cofie said Mr Kufuor's role would be more as a facilitator than a mediator - someone to bring the two sides together in a more congenial atmosphere. |
| Our correspondent says Mr Kufuor is not someone to bash heads together - he is known as the "gentle giant" and has helped negotiate during the conflicts in Ivory Coast and Liberia. | Our correspondent says Mr Kufuor is not someone to bash heads together - he is known as the "gentle giant" and has helped negotiate during the conflicts in Ivory Coast and Liberia. |
| South African Nobel peace prize laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the top US official for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, have also been central to international efforts to find a solution. | South African Nobel peace prize laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the top US official for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, have also been central to international efforts to find a solution. |
| Mr Odinga has said he was cheated of election victory and has called on Mr Kibaki to stand down. | Mr Odinga has said he was cheated of election victory and has called on Mr Kibaki to stand down. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The country-wide violence has affected virtually every Kenyan Geoffrey Mwango, Mombasa Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The country-wide violence has affected virtually every Kenyan Geoffrey Mwango, Mombasa Send us your comments |
| But the opposition leader called off planned nationwide rallies, saying he wanted to give international mediation a chance. | |
| Ms Frazer said there may have been vote-rigging by both sides and that ordinary Kenyans had been let down. | Ms Frazer said there may have been vote-rigging by both sides and that ordinary Kenyans had been let down. |
| "They've been cheated by their political leadership and their institutions," she said. | "They've been cheated by their political leadership and their institutions," she said. |
| Some 250,000 people have fled their homes in clashes between rival political supporters, ethnic groups and the police. | Some 250,000 people have fled their homes in clashes between rival political supporters, ethnic groups and the police. |
| Mr Odinga said Kenya was living through the gravest crisis it had faced and condemned the violence that had taken place. | Mr Odinga said Kenya was living through the gravest crisis it had faced and condemned the violence that had taken place. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Kibaki has reconvened parliament for 15 January. | Meanwhile, Mr Kibaki has reconvened parliament for 15 January. |
| Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement won a majority in parliament but does not have the two-thirds needed for a vote of no-confidence in the president. | Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement won a majority in parliament but does not have the two-thirds needed for a vote of no-confidence in the president. |
| Both sides have accused the other of ethnic cleansing during a week of violence after Mr Kibaki was declared the winner. | Both sides have accused the other of ethnic cleansing during a week of violence after Mr Kibaki was declared the winner. |
| A government ministry says 486 people have been killed but a senior police officers told the AFP news agency: "We have at least 600 dead... some bodies are still in the bushes where fighting occurred." | A government ministry says 486 people have been killed but a senior police officers told the AFP news agency: "We have at least 600 dead... some bodies are still in the bushes where fighting occurred." |