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Kenya parties to begin full talks US denounces Kenya 'cleansing'
(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. The top US envoy to Africa has said the forced removal of people from Kenya's Rift Valley after last month's disputed presidential poll was ethnic cleansing.
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. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer also denounced the continuing violence which has since forced thousands to flee their homes.
At earlier preliminary talks, he urged both sides to help restore calm. She urged President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to focus on mediation efforts to end the crisis.
Ahead of the talks, the top US envoy to Africa described recent violence in the Rift Valley as "ethnic cleansing". Formal negotiations between the two parties were due to begin on Wednesday.
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 But unconfirmed reports in the Kenyan media say the talks, brokered by former UN chief Kofi Annan, have now been delayed until Thursday because neither side can agree on an agenda.
Up to 900 people have died as violence has spread since the 27 December presidential poll, which the opposition claims was rigged. We're calling for an investigation into the inciting of violence as well as an investigation into who is actually killing people Jendayi FrazerUS Assistant Secretary of State class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7215303.stm">Key players: In quotes class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7213211.stm">Kenya's deep rifts
Up to 900 people have died as violence has spread since the presidential poll, which the opposition claims was rigged.
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).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).
See where main ethnic groups are distributed in Kenya
Meanwhile, Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula 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.Meanwhile, Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula 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.
See where main ethnic groups are distributed in Kenya
On Monday, ODM Secretary General Anyang Nyong'o called on member states not to recognise what he called the illegitimate and illegal government of Mr Kibaki.On Monday, ODM Secretary General Anyang Nyong'o called on member states not to recognise what he called the illegitimate and illegal government of Mr Kibaki.
class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7215225.stm">In pictures: Kenya violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7215303.stm">Key players: In quotes class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7216147.stm">MP mourners tear-gassed But Mr Wetangula said there was no injunction against the president and so he was obliged to discharge his function as a head of state.
But Mr Wetangula said there was no injunction against the president and so he had to discharge his function as a head of state. 'Cycle of retaliation'
The three-man teams of representatives from Mr Kibaki's Party of National Unity and the ODM were due to begin their deliberations in the capital, Nairobi, on Wednesday. Speaking in Addis Ababa on the eve of the AU summit, Ms Frazer called on Kenyan political leaders to focus on ending their country's political crisis, and urged them to publicly call for an end to the violence.
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. 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
The former UN secretary general has given the two sides four weeks to resolve the "immediate political issues" and up to a year to sort out details. She said both sides had spent a lot of unhelpful time adopting hard-line negotiating positions in public and inciting political and ethnic unrest.
And she said those guilty of inciting or carrying out the violence should be held to account by the international community if necessary.
"We're calling for an investigation into the inciting of violence as well as an investigation into who is actually killing people," she said.
'Targeted for marrying a Kikuyu'Could Kenya become Rwanda? Press fears crisis point
Ms Frazer described the forced removal of members of Mr Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe, which she witnessed in the eastern Rift Valley region immediately following the election, as "clear ethnic cleansing".
"The aim originally was not to kill, it was to cleanse, it was to push them out of the region," she said.
"I met with the individuals who were victims of the violence - they all said that they were being pushed out of the area, that organised groups came to them and said: 'You must leave your house by a certain time'."
Ms Frazer went on to denounce the continuing ethnic clashes across the country, which have seen Kikuyus launch reprisal attacks on Luos and Kalenjins, who largely backed Mr Odinga in the election.
"The cycle of retaliation has gone too far and become more dangerous," she added, warning that now "killing may be the object".
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."
Mediation talks
Earlier, Kenyan Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said the security forces would now "act tough" when dealing with those behind the ethnic and political violence.
"We do not want to have the criminals running around and disrupting the activities of this country and I would like to tell those... who have been used to taking laws into their hands... that they are going to face very, very, very serious consequences," he told NTV television.
Mr Saitoti's comments came as three-person teams of representatives from Mr Kibaki's Party of National Unity and Mr Odinga's ODM were due to begin their deliberations in Nairobi.
The negotiations are to be based on a series of proposals drawn up by Kofi Annan and his team, which includes former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel, the wife of ex-South African President Nelson Mandela.
KENYA MP 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 MudavadiKENYA MP 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
The former UN secretary general has given the two sides four weeks to resolve immediate political issues, and up to a year to sort out 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.
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.
'Atrocities'
Members of Mr Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe have in recent days been launching attacks on Luos and Kalenjins, who largely backed Mr Odinga in the election. The initial violence was characterised by mob attacks mainly targeting Kikuyus.
Earlier, Kenyan Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said the authorities would now "act tough" when dealing with those behind the ethnic and political violence.
I would like to tell those... who have been used to taking laws into their hands... that they are going to face very, very, very serious consequences George SaitotiKenyan Internal Security Minister
"We do not want to have the criminals running around and disrupting the activities of this country and I would like to tell those... who have been used to taking laws into their hands... that they are going to face very, very, very serious consequences," he told NTV television.
Speaking in Ethiopia on the eve of the AU summit, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, described 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 out Kikuyus.
"The aim originally was not to kill, it was to cleanse, it was to push them out of the region," she said.
Kenya's deep rifts
"The cycle of retaliation has gone too far and become more dangerous."
Ms Frazer criticised leaders from all sides for making inflammatory remarks and said those guilty of inciting or carrying out the violence should be held to account.
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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