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Kibaki, Odinga meet for first time in Kenya crisis
2008-01-25 08:54:25
By NAIROBI
The two rivals in Kenya`s political crisis met yesterday for the first time since a disputed election and pledged to seek an end to weeks of unrest that have killed nearly 700 people.
President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga shook hands and smiled after the closed-door talks, brokered by former U.N. boss Kofi Annan.
``I think we began to take some fair steps towards a peaceful solution,`` Annan told reporters gathered outside Kibaki`s central Nairobi office, where the discussions took place.
The two leaders had not talked since the Dec. 27 polls despite intense pressure from Western powers and millions of anxious Kenyans horrified by their country’s slide into chaos.
Odinga, who says Kibaki stole the election, said talks would continue until a solution was found.
``I pledge to all Kenyans that my team and I will spare no effort to resolve this crisis,`` he said.
Kibaki vowed to personally lead the east African country to unity and peace.
``I appeal to all Kenyans to remain calm and to shun violence as we endeavour to find solutions,`` he said. ``I am confident that together, our experience, unity and determination will make it possible for us to overcome the challenges.``
When the pair shook hands, hundreds of onlookers cheered.
Odinga and other officials from his opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) agreed after meeting Annan on Wednesday to call off protests planned for Thursday.
The opposition demanded an outside mediator to solve a crisis that has split Kenya down tribal and political lines, after Kibaki narrowly won the closest election in the east African nation’s history in a vote rife with rigging.
Odinga says Kibaki stole the election.
Hundreds have died and 250,000 been forced to flee their homes in a combination of politically incited ethnic killings and police action to quell protests that frequently degenerated into rioting and looting.
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