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Kenya talks set to spill over to next week, African Union head says

Other News Materials 22 February 2008 15:43 (UTC +04:00)

(dpa) - The head of the African Union (AU) said Friday this coming weekend was "crucial" for negotiations to end the crisis in Kenya, dashing hopes of a solution by Friday.

Newly-elected AU chairman Jean Ping flew into the East African nation Thursday and met with President Mwai Kibaki, who is charged with stealing December's vote, and met members of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

"The weekend will be crucial and we hope that next week we'll have something which could be agreed to," he told reporters in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Government negotiator Mutula Kilonzo said Thursday that a breakthrough in the talks was on the horizon, insisting a decision on the creation of a prime ministerial post to go to ODM leader Raila Odinga would be reached by Friday.

ODM has demanded a 50-50 split in cabinet positions and has also called for the position of executive prime minister to be created - a request the government had earlier balked at.

Both sides continued to negotiate Friday at a posh Nairobi hotel that has become known as peace house for hosting the talks, but they have already missed numerous deadlines set by AU mandated mediator and former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan to come to a political settlement.

Two of four agenda items set by Annan have been agreed to since talks began nearly one month ago, but the major sticking point remains the political deal. ODM has vowed to stage mass demonstrations if their demands are not met by Wednesday.

Kenyans have become anxious for a resolution to the stalemate, but many were angered by ODM's threat of new protests, which paralyzed the nation's booming economy last month.

Kenya was plunged into chaos following the announcement of Kibaki as president, with violence being unleashed nationwide leaving more than 1,000 people dead.

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