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Stop Kenya burning, says AU head Stop Kenya burning, says AU head
(30 minutes later)
African leaders at their summit in Ethiopia have been told they must get involved with the crisis in Kenya.African leaders at their summit in Ethiopia have been told they must get involved with the crisis in Kenya.
AU commission chairman Alpha Oumar Konare told them they could not just sit by. "If Kenya burns, there will be nothing for tomorrow," he said.AU commission chairman Alpha Oumar Konare told them they could not just sit by. "If Kenya burns, there will be nothing for tomorrow," he said.
More than 850 people have died in political and ethnic clashes since last month's elections, which the opposition says were rigged.More than 850 people have died in political and ethnic clashes since last month's elections, which the opposition says were rigged.
In Nairobi, talks between government and opposition have begun. In Nairobi, talks between government and opposition have been postponed.
Substantive negotiations started for the first time on Thursday but were adjourned until Friday after an opposition MP was shot dead by a policeman in the western town of Eldoret.
The police say the killing was a domestic dispute but the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) says he was assassinated.
The death of David Too has raised tensions in Eldoret, the scene of serious violence this month.
Mr Konare - the AU's top executive - said it was the AU's duty to support the mediation process which is led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.Mr Konare - the AU's top executive - said it was the AU's duty to support the mediation process which is led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
'Special responsibility''Special responsibility'
The current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Kenyan leaders to find a peaceful way out.The current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Kenyan leaders to find a peaceful way out.
The second killing of an MP belonging to Orange Democratic Movement is part of a plot to reduce our majority in parliament Raila OdingaOpposition leader Tension after MP shot deadTrapped in a fracturing Kenya "President [Mwai] Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga... have a special responsibility to solve the crisis peacefully," he told the summit.The second killing of an MP belonging to Orange Democratic Movement is part of a plot to reduce our majority in parliament Raila OdingaOpposition leader Tension after MP shot deadTrapped in a fracturing Kenya "President [Mwai] Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga... have a special responsibility to solve the crisis peacefully," he told the summit.
In Kenya itself, just as substantive peace talks began in Nairobi, tension rose in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret when a traffic policeman shot dead an opposition MP - the second to be killed this week.
Kenyan police say the killing was an act of revenge by a jealous boyfriend.
But shops closed as angry protestors marched through the town. Opposition leaders say the shooting was political.
Violence first broke out after the 27 December presidential elections, which the opposition Orange Democratic Movement says Mr Kibaki's government rigged.Violence first broke out after the 27 December presidential elections, which the opposition Orange Democratic Movement says Mr Kibaki's government rigged.
Mr Kibaki is among more than 40 leaders present at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, even though the ODM called on the AU not to recognise him.Mr Kibaki is among more than 40 leaders present at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, even though the ODM called on the AU not to recognise him.
Mr Odinga, by contrast, has not been invited.Mr Odinga, by contrast, has not been invited.
All eyesAll eyes
The BBC's Will Ross, reporting from the conference, says all eyes will be on Mr Kibaki.The BBC's Will Ross, reporting from the conference, says all eyes will be on Mr Kibaki.
President Mwai Kibaki is at the summit despite opposition protestsPresident Mwai Kibaki is at the summit despite opposition protests
He says Mr Kibaki is likely to brief at least some of the African leaders on events in Kenya, especially the talks between government and opposition.He says Mr Kibaki is likely to brief at least some of the African leaders on events in Kenya, especially the talks between government and opposition.
The Kenyan crisis may then be pushed away, which could be convenient for an organisation which often struggles to tackle the continent's problems with any great urgency, he says.The Kenyan crisis may then be pushed away, which could be convenient for an organisation which often struggles to tackle the continent's problems with any great urgency, he says.
Despite Mr Konare's plea, the official theme of the AU summit is industrialisation.Despite Mr Konare's plea, the official theme of the AU summit is industrialisation.
But other subjects are likely to includeBut other subjects are likely to include
  • Sudan, where the AU and the UN have promised to create the world's largest peacekeeping force in Darfur
  • Somalia, where members are keen to strengthen the small Ugandan and Burundian forces in the country, and
  • the AU's own internal organisation
  • Sudan, where the AU and the UN have promised to create the world's largest peacekeeping force in Darfur
  • Somalia, where members are keen to strengthen the small Ugandan and Burundian forces in the country, and
  • the AU's own internal organisation
Our correspondent says many Africans hope other urgent issues such as Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be tackled.Our correspondent says many Africans hope other urgent issues such as Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be tackled.
Are you in Kenya? Have you been affected by the violence? Tell us what is happening where you are by using the form below:
Name
Are you in Kenya? Have you been affected by the violence? Tell us what is happening where you are by using the form below: Name