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New bid to break Kenya deadlock | New bid to break Kenya deadlock |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Talks aimed at breaking Kenya's political deadlock have resumed a day after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged a power-sharing deal. | Talks aimed at breaking Kenya's political deadlock have resumed a day after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged a power-sharing deal. |
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for powers to be vested in the new post of prime minister. | Opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for powers to be vested in the new post of prime minister. |
He says he was cheated of victory in December's elections - a charge denied by President Mwai Kibaki, who wants to keep his powers. | He says he was cheated of victory in December's elections - a charge denied by President Mwai Kibaki, who wants to keep his powers. |
Violence over the dispute has left at least 1,000 people dead across Kenya. | |
However, most parts of Kenya are now calm. | However, most parts of Kenya are now calm. |
"I frankly believe that the time for a political settlement was yesterday," Ms Rice said after holding separate meetings with President Kibaki and Mr Odinga on Monday. | "I frankly believe that the time for a political settlement was yesterday," Ms Rice said after holding separate meetings with President Kibaki and Mr Odinga on Monday. |
It can't be that there is simply the illusion of power-sharing, it has to be real Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State Round-up: After the violence | It can't be that there is simply the illusion of power-sharing, it has to be real Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State Round-up: After the violence |
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is meeting Mr Kibaki separately before returning to the talks, where he is the chief mediator. | Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is meeting Mr Kibaki separately before returning to the talks, where he is the chief mediator. |
Last week he said the two sides were "very close" to a solution. | Last week he said the two sides were "very close" to a solution. |
'Move forward' | 'Move forward' |
The BBC's Karen Allen in Nairobi says that although both sides have agreed the idea of a grand coalition in principle, they appear deadlocked over how it should work in practice. | The BBC's Karen Allen in Nairobi says that although both sides have agreed the idea of a grand coalition in principle, they appear deadlocked over how it should work in practice. |
Ms Rice also said: "It can't be that there is simply the illusion of power-sharing, it has to be real." | Ms Rice also said: "It can't be that there is simply the illusion of power-sharing, it has to be real." |
President Kibaki's team has not revealed its position, although it has left several cabinet posts unfilled, opening the way for some form of coalition government. | President Kibaki's team has not revealed its position, although it has left several cabinet posts unfilled, opening the way for some form of coalition government. |
A government negotiator has also said they would be happy to change the constitution - a step that would be needed to create the post of prime minister. | A government negotiator has also said they would be happy to change the constitution - a step that would be needed to create the post of prime minister. |
The government has also warned against a foreign solution imposed on Kenya. | The government has also warned against a foreign solution imposed on Kenya. |
But Ms Rice dismissed suggestions from Kenyan ministers that the US was meddling in Kenyan affairs. | But Ms Rice dismissed suggestions from Kenyan ministers that the US was meddling in Kenyan affairs. |
"It's Kenyans who are insisting that their political leaders, that their political class finds a solution to the crisis so that Kenya can move forward," she said. | "It's Kenyans who are insisting that their political leaders, that their political class finds a solution to the crisis so that Kenya can move forward," she said. |
However, foreign diplomats have warned representatives of both sides of dire consequences if they scupper the process. | However, foreign diplomats have warned representatives of both sides of dire consequences if they scupper the process. |
The US has said that 10 MPs, accused of stirring up the violence, will be banned from entering the US, while some donors have threatened to reduce aid to Kenya. | The US has said that 10 MPs, accused of stirring up the violence, will be banned from entering the US, while some donors have threatened to reduce aid to Kenya. |
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