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Kenya talks resume on crucial day AU head urges Kenya peace deal
(about 4 hours later)
Delegations from Kenya's government and opposition have resumed talks aimed at ending weeks of post-election violence. The African Union Commission chairman has urged Kenya's government and opposition to reach an agreement to end weeks of post-election violence.
Friday's talks are aimed at fine tuning a power-sharing plan that would involve the creation of a prime minister's post to be held by the opposition. Jean Ping said he hoped for a deal next week. Earlier, there was hope that the rivals would end their talks on Friday.
The session was delayed by the late arrival of the government delegation. A draft plan would involve creating a prime minister's post to be held by the oppositions, but disagreement remains over what powers this post would have.
The East African Community has warned that the crisis in Kenya, in which 1,000 people have died, is hurting the economy of the whole region. The East African Community says the crisis is hurting the regional economy.
Mediator and ex-UN chief Kofi Annan said Thursday's agreement on the creation of a prime ministerial post showed progress towards ending violence. "The weekend will be crucial. We hope that next week we'll have something which can be agreed," Mr Ping said in Nairobi.
The proposed prime minister's post is likely to be held by opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, but the rival parties have yet to decide on the extent of the prime minister's powers. Mediator and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Thursday's agreement on the creation of a prime ministerial post showed progress towards ending violence.
Both sides were expected to hold consultations on Thursday afternoon before returning to the talks venue in Nairobi on Friday. We can only promote and attract investments... if we have enduring peace and stability."
"We have more or less agreed on a non-executive prime minister but with some substantial meaningful responsibilities," government negotiator Mutula Kilonzo said, according to the AP news agency. Juma Mwapachu EAC secretary general class="" href="/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7255478.stm">Ugandan economy suffers
But the ODM are demanding that the prime minister hold executive powers. But earlier hopes that a final deal would be announced on Friday proved unfounded as disagreements remained between the two sides on the exact role of the proposed prime minister.
Mr Kilonzo also said that further details had to be resolved but would not specify. The post is likely to be held by opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, whose party demands that the post include executive powers.
The government favours "a non-executive prime minister but with some substantial meaningful responsibilities," government negotiator Mutula Kilonzo said, according to the AP news agency.
Friday's round of talks started late after the government delegation failed to arrive on time.
Also on Friday, Mr Odinga flew out of Kenya to an unconfirmed destination. He is however keeping in close contact with his negotiating team at the talks, his aides say.
Economic slowdownEconomic slowdown
The East African Community has warned of an economic slowdown throughout the region as a result of the Kenyan political crisis.The East African Community has warned of an economic slowdown throughout the region as a result of the Kenyan political crisis.
class="" href="/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7255478.stm">Ugandan economy suffers "Trade flows have been negatively affected and so have exchequer and business revenues," EAC secretary general Juma Mwapachu said in a statement on Thursday. "Trade flows have been negatively affected and so have exchequer and business revenues," EAC Secretary General Juma Mwapachu said in a statement on Thursday.
"We can only promote and attract investments sustainably, as well as assure effective intra-regional trade, if we have enduring peace and stability.""We can only promote and attract investments sustainably, as well as assure effective intra-regional trade, if we have enduring peace and stability."
The landlocked economies of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, largely rely on trade through the Kenyan port of Mombasa.The landlocked economies of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, largely rely on trade through the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
The opposition alleges widespread rigging in the December election, and international observers said the poll was flawed.The opposition alleges widespread rigging in the December election, and international observers said the poll was flawed.
The Kenyan opposition said on Wednesday it would resume mass protests if a deal was not reached within a week.The Kenyan opposition said on Wednesday it would resume mass protests if a deal was not reached within a week.