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Kenya parties to begin mediation Kenya parties to begin mediation
(about 2 hours later)
Kenya's government and opposition are due to begin full negotiations to try to end the crisis resulting from last month's disputed presidential election.Kenya's government and opposition are due to begin full negotiations to try to end the crisis resulting from last month's disputed presidential election.
President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga have each appointed three-man teams to discuss proposals drawn up by former UN chief Kofi Annan.President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga have each appointed three-man teams to discuss proposals drawn up by former UN chief Kofi Annan.
On Tuesday, he urged both sides to do "whatever possible" to restore calm.On Tuesday, he urged both sides to do "whatever possible" to restore calm.
Up to 900 people have died as violence has spread since December's election, which the opposition claims was rigged. Ahead of the talks, the top US envoy to Africa described the recent violence in the Rift Valley as "ethnic cleansing".
Mr Annan's warning came as at least nine people were killed in outbreaks of violence throughout the country on Tuesday, following the killing of Mugabe Ware, an MP from Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Up to 900 people have died as violence has spread since the 27 December presidential poll, which the opposition claims was rigged.
At the moment we are concerned about certain atrocities that could conceivably escalate if they're not stopped Francis DengUN Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide
At least nine people were killed in outbreaks of violence throughout the country on Tuesday, following the killing of Mugabe Ware, an MP from Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Meanwhile, Kenya's foreign minister has said Mr Kibaki will attend the African Union summit on Thursday, dismissing suggestions that there were more pressing issues for him to attend to at home.
In response to the suggestion that Mr Kibaki's attendance was designed to cement his position as head of state, Moses Wetangula said there was no injunction against the president and so he had to discharge his function as a head of state.
See where main ethnic groups are distributed in Kenya See where main ethnic groups are distributed in Kenya
Meanwhile, Kenya's foreign minister has said Mr Kibaki will attend the African Union summit later this week, dismissing suggestions that there were more pressing issues for him to attend to at home. ODM Secretary General Anyang N'yongo had earlier called on member states on Monday not to recognise what it called the illegitimate and illegal government of Mr Kibaki.
HatredHatred
The three-man teams of representatives from Mr Kibaki's Party of National Unity and the ODM will begin their deliberations in the capital, Nairobi, on Wednesday.The three-man teams of representatives from Mr Kibaki's Party of National Unity and the ODM will begin their deliberations in the capital, Nairobi, on Wednesday.
They negotiations will be based on a series of proposals drawn up by Mr Annan and his team, which includes former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel, the wife of ex-South African President Nelson Mandela. class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7215225.stm">In pictures: Kenya violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7215303.stm"> Reaction: In quotes class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7216147.stm">MP mourners tear-gassed
class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7215225.stm">In pictures: Kenya violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7214843.stm">At-a-glance: Flashpoints class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7216147.stm">MP mourners tear-gassed The negotiations will be based on a series of proposals drawn up by Mr Annan and his team, which includes former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel, the wife of ex-South African President Nelson Mandela.
The former UN secretary general has given the two sides four weeks to resolve the "immediate political issues" and much longer, up to a year, to sort out the details.The former UN secretary general has given the two sides four weeks to resolve the "immediate political issues" and much longer, up to a year, to sort out the details.
Launching the formal mediation process on Tuesday, Mr Annan warned that the crisis was having a "profound and negative impact" and urged both sides to take the talks seriously or risk losing international aid.Launching the formal mediation process on Tuesday, Mr Annan warned that the crisis was having a "profound and negative impact" and urged both sides to take the talks seriously or risk losing international aid.
Speaking after Mr Annan, Mr Odinga condemned the "deeply flawed" results of the presidential election and said he sought "to be president of all Kenyans".Speaking after Mr Annan, Mr Odinga condemned the "deeply flawed" results of the presidential election and said he sought "to be president of all Kenyans".
KENYA NEGOTIATING TEAMS Party of National Unity:Justice Minister Martha Karua, Mutula Kilonzo, former Health Minister Prof Samson OngeriODM:William Ruto, former Kenyan UK High Commissioner Sally Kosgei, former Vice-President Musalia Mudavadi
President Kibaki denounced the violence, and said he would "implement stern measures" against "those who disrupt the peace".President Kibaki denounced the violence, and said he would "implement stern measures" against "those who disrupt the peace".
He pledged to support mediation attempts, provide more police stations and create a fund for victims of the violence.He pledged to support mediation attempts, provide more police stations and create a fund for victims of the violence.
'People are killing each other'Kenya's deep riftsPress rails at politicians
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says parts of the country, particularly the Rift Valley and western Kenya, are cauldrons of hatred as a result of inter-ethnic fighting during the past month.The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says parts of the country, particularly the Rift Valley and western Kenya, are cauldrons of hatred as a result of inter-ethnic fighting during the past month.
Even if the talks are successful, some of the wounds caused to Kenyan society may take many years to heal, our correspondent says.Even if the talks are successful, some of the wounds caused to Kenyan society may take many years to heal, our correspondent says.
Later on Tuesday, Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula confirmed that President Kibaki would attend the African Union summit in Addis Ababa later this week, dismissing suggestions that he should focus on the country's political crisis. 'Atrocities'
In response to the suggestion that Mr Kibaki's attendance was principally designed to cement his position as the head of state, he said there was no injunction against the president and so he had to discharge his function as a head of state. Members of Mr Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe have been launching attacks on Luos and Kalenjins in recent days, who backed Mr Odinga in the election. The initial violence was characterised by mob attacks largely targeting Kikuyus.
The ODM's secretary general, Anyang N'yongo, called on member states on Monday not to recognise what it called the illegitimate and illegal government of Mr Kibaki. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7212652.stm">'People are killing each other' class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7213211.stm">Kenya's deep rifts class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7214936.stm">Press rails at politicians
Speaking in Ethiopia ahead of the African Union summit, the US Secretary of State for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, described the recent violence in the Rift Valley as "clear ethnic cleansing".
Ms Frazer said that what she had seen when she visited Kenya earlier this month was a clear effort to drive Kikuyus out of the region.
"The aim originally was not to kill, it was to cleanse, it was to push them out of the region," she said.
The UN's special adviser for the prevention of genocide, Francis Deng, has said he is sending one of his members of staff to observe the situation in Kenya.
"At the moment I would not use the word genocide," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"At the moment we are concerned about certain atrocities that could conceivably escalate if they're not stopped."
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