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Kenya rivals at mediation meeting Kenyan rivals meet face-to-face
(30 minutes later)
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, are meeting for the first time since last month's disputed presidential election.Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, are meeting for the first time since last month's disputed presidential election.
The face-to-face talks at State House are being mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan, who has been holding separate meetings with the two men. The face-to-face talks in central Nairobi are being mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan, who has been holding separate meetings with the two men.
Weeks of violence followed the election results, rejected by Mr Kibaki and described as flawed by observers.Weeks of violence followed the election results, rejected by Mr Kibaki and described as flawed by observers.
Earlier, a rights group accused Mr Odinga's party of attacks on Kikuyus. Earlier, a rights group accused Mr Odinga's party of ethnic violence.
"We have evidence that Orange Democratic Movement politicians and local leaders actively fomented some post-election violence," said the group's acting Africa director for Human Rights Watch. "We have evidence that Orange Democratic Movement politicians and local leaders actively fomented some post-election violence," said Human Rights Watch's acting Africa director.
The ODM has denied previous charges of "ethnic cleansing" of Mr Kibaki's ethnic group during the unrest which has left more than 650 people dead and driven 250,000 from their homes. The ODM has denied previous charges of "ethnic cleansing" of Mr Kibaki's Kikuyu ethnic group during the unrest which has left more than 650 people dead and driven 250,000 from their homes.
BreakthroughBreakthrough
In a statement, the United Nations said its former secretary general would attend a talks with President Kibaki and Mr Odinga at the office of the president at 1630 (1330 GMT) in Nairobi. Mr Odinga, accompanied by ODM MP William Ruto and Mr Annan, was first to arrive at the private meeting at the president's office at Harambee House in central Nairobi on Thursday.
Mr Kibaki arrived shortly afterwards, and like the others said nothing to journalists before entering.
Opposition leaders are right to challenge Kenya's rigged presidential poll, but they can't use it as an excuse for targeting ethnic groups Georgette GagnonHuman Rights Watch
The talks are also being attended by Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, Graca Machel, the wife of Nelson Mandela, and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa.
The BBC's Adam Mynott in the capital says the meeting is a breakthrough, although details of the agenda have not been released.The BBC's Adam Mynott in the capital says the meeting is a breakthrough, although details of the agenda have not been released.
Several earlier attempts to get the two leaders to hold face-to-face talks have failed. Several earlier attempts to get the rival leaders to hold face-to-face talks failed, with Mr Kibaki insisting on direct talks and Mr Odinga refusing to meet without a mediator.
On Wednesday, Mr Odinga called off a mass protest planned for Thursday in Nairobi in response to a request by Mr Annan. At an earlier meeting with Mr Annan in Nairobi, Mr Kibaki told the former UN secretary general that he wanted to resolve the political crisis triggered by December's disputed election.
The former UN secretary-general is being accompanied on his mission by Graca Machel, the wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa. "President Kibaki also informed Mr Annan... on steps his government was taking to open political dialogue and ensure national reconciliation and healing," a Kenyan government statement said.
On Wednesday, Mr Odinga called off a mass protest planned for Thursday in Nairobi after holding talks with Mr Annan.
Ethnic attacks 'planned'
Earlier, Human Rights Watch accused ODM officials of helping to organise violence in the Rift Valley region in which hundreds of President Kibaki's Kikuyu community were killed following the announcement of his election victory.
Their researchers spoke to member of the rival Kalenjin group, who said they were mobilised by their leaders to attack and loot Kikuyu-owned shops and businesses.
Thousands of people have fled their homes, especially in the Rift Valley
Local ODM officials and Kalenjin leaders "arranged frequent meetings following the election to organise, direct and facilitate the violence unleashed by gangs of local youth", HRW said.
"Opposition leaders are right to challenge Kenya's rigged presidential poll, but they can't use it as an excuse for targeting ethnic groups," said Georgette Gagnon, the group's acting Africa director.
HRW warned that more attacks were being planned on the Eldoret areas of Langas and Munyaka, where many Kikuyu homes remain intact, and called on the opposition to take steps to prevent them.
An ODM spokesman, Salim Lone said it was easy for people to misunderstand second-hand stories about killings and said HRW should provide concrete evidence before jeopardising mediation efforts.
The HRW report came as at least 12 people were killed overnight in several incidents throughout the country, including eight people in the Rift Valley capital, Nakuru, according to the AFP news agency.