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Rice in Nairobi to push for deal Rice in Nairobi to push for deal
(about 3 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Kenya in an attempt to end the political crisis which has led to widespread unrest. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is holding talks in Kenya in an attempt to push the country's rival political groups to accept a deal to share power.
Ms Rice is expected to push President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to agree a deal to share power, following December's disputed election. Before meeting President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi, Ms Rice said a coalition was needed "so that Kenya can be governed".
She will also hold talks with the lead mediator, former UN chief Kofi Annan. She earlier held talks with the lead mediator, former UN chief Kofi Annan.
On Friday, both sides agreed to set up an independent panel to review the vote, which Mr Odinga says was rigged. Both sides agreed on Friday to set up a panel to review December's presidential vote, which Mr Odinga says was rigged.
The dispute has led to political and ethnic violence in which at least 1,000 people have been killed and 600,000 have fled their homes. The dispute has led to widespread political and ethnic violence in which at least 1,000 people have been killed and 600,000 have fled their homes.
Ongoing mediationOngoing mediation
Ms Rice became the highest-ranking US official to visit Kenya since the election on 27 December when she flew into Nairobi on Monday from neighbouring Tanzania, where she had been accompanying President George W Bush. Ms Rice arrived in Nairobi and went straight into a meeting with Mr Annan, who briefed her on the discussions so far between the government and the opposition.
In a brief statement afterwards, she paid tribute to the former UN secretary-general's mediation efforts, saying there had been progress under his leadership and that his mission was "fully supported by the entire international community".
But Ms Rice said there was now an urgent need for a power-sharing agreement.
"There has clearly been progress and that is in large part I think to the fact that these are leaders of the Kenyan people who want to move forward," she said.
We encourage our friends to support us and not make any mistake of putting a gun to anybody's head and saying 'either/or', because that cannot work Moses WetangulaKenyan Foreign Minister Aids patients hit by crisisRound-up: After the violenceWe encourage our friends to support us and not make any mistake of putting a gun to anybody's head and saying 'either/or', because that cannot work Moses WetangulaKenyan Foreign Minister Aids patients hit by crisisRound-up: After the violence
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says it was hoped Ms Rice would arrive to endorse a decision taken by government and opposition negotiators to agree on a way out of the election crisis. "There needs to be a governance arrangement that will allow real power-sharing, that will allow a coalition, indeed a grand coalition, so that Kenya can be governed."
But the mediation process is still going on and the White House said she did not expect to come away with a "final deal", our correspondent says. Ms Rice said the 27 December presidential election had not produced "an outcome that can lead to the governance of Kenya".
The talks are due to resume on Tuesday, after being adjourned last Thursday. "So now that outcome has to be produced by negotiation and goodwill," she added.
Considerable progress has been made but there is no agreement ready to be signed and there remains considerable opposition in the government to an imposed solution, he adds. Mr Annan said there had been no attempt by the international community to impose a solution, but simply an insistence that a solution should be found.
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says considerable progress has been made but there is no agreement ready to be signed and there remains considerable opposition in the government to an imposed solution.
"We encourage our friends to support us and not make any mistake of putting a gun to anybody's head and saying 'either/or', because that cannot work," Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula warned on Sunday."We encourage our friends to support us and not make any mistake of putting a gun to anybody's head and saying 'either/or', because that cannot work," Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula warned on Sunday.
"Even if we get visitors to help us in any way possible, the answer to the problem in Kenya lies with Kenyans themselves.""Even if we get visitors to help us in any way possible, the answer to the problem in Kenya lies with Kenyans themselves."
Mr Bush had said he favoured a power-sharing deal at the start of his tour of Africa on Saturday, although he later stressed the US was looking only at "how best we can help the process". The talks between government and opposition negotiators are due to resume on Tuesday, after being adjourned last Thursday.
Election panelElection panel
At the talks in Nairobi, Ms Rice is expected to discuss the progress made so far by mediation team led by Mr Annan. On Friday, Mr Annan announced that both sides had agreed to set up an independent panel, including Kenyan and non-Kenyan experts, to investigate "all aspects" of the disputed election.
Kofi Annan has said the two rivals are very close to a dealKofi Annan has said the two rivals are very close to a deal
On Friday, the former UN secretary general announced that the government and opposition had agreed to set up an independent panel, including Kenyan and non-Kenyan experts, to investigate "all aspects" of the disputed election.
The committee is due to start work on 15 March and submit its report within three to six months, he added.The committee is due to start work on 15 March and submit its report within three to six months, he added.
"We are there, we are very close, we are moving steadily," Mr Annan said after two days of secret talks to end the crisis."We are there, we are very close, we are moving steadily," Mr Annan said after two days of secret talks to end the crisis.
The government negotiator, Mutula Kilonzo, said on Thursday that the two sides had agreed to write a new constitution within a year.The government negotiator, Mutula Kilonzo, said on Thursday that the two sides had agreed to write a new constitution within a year.
Correspondents say this could pave the way for the creation of the post of prime minister, which Mr Odinga could take, although the opposition team said the issue of power-sharing needed to be resolved first.Correspondents say this could pave the way for the creation of the post of prime minister, which Mr Odinga could take, although the opposition team said the issue of power-sharing needed to be resolved first.
Other details still reportedly needing to be worked out include the division of ministerial portfolios in any coalition.Other details still reportedly needing to be worked out include the division of ministerial portfolios in any coalition.
Foreign diplomats have warned representatives of both sides of dire consequences if they scupper the process.Foreign diplomats have warned representatives of both sides of dire consequences if they scupper the process.