Kenya opposition says talks hinge on mediator

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's opposition said on Tuesday it would only hold talks with President Mwai Kibaki as part of international mediation efforts to end post-election unrest that has killed hundreds of people.

Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga are under huge pressure to meet one-on-one to resolve the crisis that has tarnished Kenya's reputation as one of Africa's most vibrant democracies and promising economies.

The head of the African Union, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, was due in Nairobi later on Tuesday in the latest diplomatic push for dialogue between the two former allies.


Kibaki's office said he had invited Odinga for talks on Friday on how to stop the violence, consolidate peace and forge "national reconciliation".

"Raila will only participate in a meeting with Mr. Kibaki if it's part of a negotiating process that President Kufuor is expected to initiate," said Odinga's spokesman Salim Lone.



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