Kenya Rivals to Discuss Power-sharing Proposals

The rival sides in Kenya's bitter post-election dispute are due to discuss the possibility of power-sharing today in talks aimed at ending the violent unrest that has claimed the lives of at least 1,000 people.

The proposals on the table are thought to involve Mwai Kibaki continuing as president with the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, serving as prime minister.

But in public the two sides remain at loggerheads, with Odinga accusing Kibaki of stealing the election and Kibaki accusing the opposition of orchestrating the ensuing bloodshed.

The talks come as the Kenya Red Cross highlighted the continuing tribal fighting in western Kenya, sparked by the disputed poll. It said more than 1,000 people had been killed since the conflict started.

The talks in Nairobi are being led by the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, who said last night: "We begin our work on the political issues. The crisis arising out of the December 2007 elections, that is going to take hard negotiations, understandably give and take."

In a speech to business leaders, reported by Reuters, he said: "We all have a responsibility to get Kenya back from the brink. No society can remain prosperous without the rule of law and human rights. Let your leaders know that you want peace and stability. Keep your voices high."

Yesterday, Annan's choice of chief negotiator, the South African businessman Cyril Ramaphosa, was forced to withdraw from the talks because of alleged business links with Odinga.

The two sides signed a two-page agreement on immediate measures, including helping more than 300,000 displace people return to their homes.

They also welcomed a UN human rights team to investigate the violence, and agreed on Annan's plan for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission.