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New effort to solve Kenya crisis New effort to solve Kenya crisis
(about 4 hours later)
Ghana's President John Kufuor has held separate talks with both sides involved in Kenya's election crisis.Ghana's President John Kufuor has held separate talks with both sides involved in Kenya's election crisis.
Mr Kufuor - who also heads the African Union - met President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.Mr Kufuor - who also heads the African Union - met President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Mr Kibaki said at his meeting that his government was operational and would reach out to the opposition. Afterwards, Mr Kibaki's spokesman said he wanted to reach out to his opponents now the violence had subsided, while Mr Odinga called the talks "fruitful".
However there is no sign the two sides will meet for direct talks to resolve the violence, which has seen hundreds of people killed and displaced. But there is no sign the two sides will meet for direct talks to resolve the violence, which has claimed 600 lives.
In a BBC interview, the new Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka - who came third behind Mr Odinga in the presidential election - acknowledged there were flaws during last month's election, but said there was no doubt that President Kibaki had won. On Wednesday Mr Odinga refused such talks proposed by Mr Kibaki, calling the offer "public relations gimmickry" that sought to divert attention from international efforts to broker a solution.
The opposition has called Mr Kibaki's announcement of a partial cabinet on Tuesday "a slap in the face". Mr Odinga has also repeatedly said he will not join a government of national unity.
Protests erupted in the capital Nairobi and in the western opposition stronghold of Kisumu following the announcement. In addition to those killed, some 250,000 are feared displaced by the violence following the 27 December election in Kenya - previously seen as a beacon of stability in east Africa.
Some 600 people are feared to have been killed, and 250,000 displaced, by post-election violence in Kenya - previously seen as a beacon of stability in east Africa. 'Preaching peace'
Tensions persist After meeting Mr Kufuor, Mr Kibaki's office issued a statement, saying he had assured Mr Kufuor he was initiating dialogue.
After meeting the Ghanaian president, Mr Kibaki flew off to the western city of Eldoret, which has suffered some of the worst violence since the crisis began. NEW MINISTERS Kalonzo Musyoka: Vice-president, ODM-KenyaUhuru Kenyatta: Local government, KanuMoses Wetangula: Foreign affairs, PNUKiraitu Murungi, Energy, PNUMartha Karua, Justice, PNUGeorge Saitoti: Internal Security, PNUJohn Michuki: Road transport, PNU
A statement by Mr Kibaki's office said he had assured Mr Kufuor he was initiating dialogue.
NEW MINISTERS Kalonzo Musyoka: Vice-president, ODM- KenyaUhuru Kenyatta: Local government, KanuMoses Wetangula: Foreign affairs, PNUKiraitu Murungi, Energy, PNUMartha Karua , Justice, PNUGeorge Saitoti: Internal Security, PNUJohn Michuki: Road transport, PNU
"Now that peace was returning to these parts, his partially formed government would continue to reach out to Kenyan leaders who would also be encouraged to play their role in preaching peace among their followers," the statement said."Now that peace was returning to these parts, his partially formed government would continue to reach out to Kenyan leaders who would also be encouraged to play their role in preaching peace among their followers," the statement said.
Mr Musyoka emphasised the need for peace and stability. Later, the Ghanaian president met Mr Odinga for four hours.
"What is important is that a government is in place," he said. "We have given them our side of the story. This is basically in the interest of finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis that we have in our country today," Mr Odinga said.
"What we want to do right now is to preach national healing and reconciliation." href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_homeless_kenyans/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_homeless_kenyans/html/1.stm', '1199894539', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Displaced Kenyans tell of their fear to return home href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_homeless_kenyans/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_homeless_kenyans/html/1.stm', '1199894539', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures
Mr Kufuor's visit is expected to build on the mediation efforts of the top US diplomat on Africa, Jendayi Frazer, who has spent several days shuttling between the two sides. The BBC's Joseph Makori in Nairobi reports that the mediation efforts have been generally welcomed by the public - who feel Mr Kufuor's visit will bring the calm needed for talks - but that there is widespread conviction that a home-grown solution is needed.
The violence has forced thousands of Kenyans into campsThe violence has forced thousands of Kenyans into camps
Mr Kibaki's announcement of a cabinet appeared to deliver a blow to hopes of dialogue, with Mr Odinga on Tuesday rejecting a government offer of direct talks as "public relations gimmickry" that sought to divert attention from international efforts to broker a solution. He warns that Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has reiterated that it does not recognise the new cabinet announced on Tuesday by Mr Kibaki.
But Mr Kibaki insisted in a statement that there was room for members of the opposition in his new cabinet. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Kibaki insisted that there was room for members of the opposition in his new cabinet - currently dominated by members of his Party of National Unity (PNU), but until now only partially filled.
"When my government is fully constituted as a result of dialogue, it will be broad-based and represent the will of the people of Kenya," Mr Kibaki said in a statement, quoted by AFP news agency. "When my government is fully constituted as a result of dialogue, it will be broad-based and represent the will of the people of Kenya," he said in a statement.
Violence returns 'Justice' call
The cabinet announcement triggered protests in Kisumu, where police fired over the heads of hundreds of demonstrators who set up burning road blocks and stoned cars. Following his meeting with Mr Kufuor, Mr Kibaki flew off to the western city of Eldoret, which has suffered some of the worst violence since the crisis began.
HAVE YOUR SAY The country-wide violence has affected virtually every Kenyan Geoffrey Mwango, Mombasa Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The country-wide violence has affected virtually every Kenyan Geoffrey Mwango, Mombasa Send us your comments
One man died, Reuters news agency reported. He addressed three rallies, mainly attended by members of his Kikuyu tribe who were worst affected by violence in the area.
In Nairobi, hundreds of opposition supporters came out in protest, some reportedly brandishing machetes. Gunshots were heard for the first time in days, reports said. Visibly angered by the masses of displaced, Mr Kibaki urged followers not to flee the area, promising that "those who have been inciting people and brought this mayhem will be brought to justice".
A spokesman for Mr Odinga has urged opposition supporters not to take part in demonstrations, saying they could imperil international efforts to find a solution. The latest violence - in which up to three people are reported to have died - was sparked by the unveiling of Mr Kibaki's cabinet and centred on districts of the capital and the western opposition stronghold of Kisumu.
Meanwhile, Ms Frazer is to extend her stay in Kenya to continue pushing for a resolution, said state department spokesman Sean McCormack in Washington. The news agency Associated Press reported continuing protests on the road between the two cities on Wednesday, with dozens of youths burning tyres to block the route.
Ms Frazer has been highly critical of events in Kenya - a close US ally - saying earlier in the week that Kenyans had been "cheated by their leadership and their institutions". "If elections fail, violence prevails!" it quoted them as shouting.