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Kenyan rivals sign coalition deal
NAIROBI
Petroleumworld.com, Feb 29, 2008Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki and opposition chief Raila Odinga signed an agreement Thursday to form a coalition government and end a two-month crisis that has claimed some 1,500 lives.
The two leaders, sitting side by side, signed the accord outside the president's office, in front of the chief mediator Kofi Annan and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who heads the African Union.
"I am pleased to be able to tell you and the citizens of Kenya that the two leaders this afternoon completed work on ... how to overcome the political crisis," Annan told reporters.
"I commend all those whose efforts have made this possible," he added.
The deal creates the post of prime minister and two deputy prime ministers to end the impasse following the controversial presidential elections which both leaders claim they won.
The premier will be from the party with the majority in parliament, which is currently held by Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement.
Annan urged parliament to convene soon to enact the necessary laws to flesh out the deal.
On Tuesday, Annan had suspended talks between government and opposition negotiators after they failed to agree on a power-sharing deal to resolve the crisis that erupted after Odinga accused Kibaki of rigging the December polls.
Ensuing political rioting and tribal fighting killed at least 1,500 people, displaced hundreds of thousands and heavily hit the economy.
Annan announced that talks will resume Friday to discuss longterm solutions.
| Kibaki vowed to respect the deal and called upon Kenyans to restore stability.
"I am happy today (that) we have signed an agreement that marks a success of the talks .... This process has reminded us that as a nation, there are more issues that unite us instead of divide us," Kibaki said.
"Kenya has room for all of us if we enhance peace and tolerance ... Today I stand before you to give a solemn commitment that I will be on the forefront to protect that peace," Kibaki said.
He announced that parliament will reopen on March 6.
Odinga, for the first time in since the December 27 elections, referred Kibaki as "president."
"This crisis has taught Kenyans a serious lesson that will help us forge a strong nation ... With the signing of this agreement, you have opened a new chapter for this country," he said.
"On our side, we are determined to ensure that this agreement succeeds. We have began a journey and this journey we will walk together. I can see light at the end of the tunnel," Odinga added.
Kikwete urged both sides to implement the agreement.
Once seen as a beacon of peace among war-wracked neighbours, Kenya is now reeling from one of its worst political crises since it gained independence from Britain in 1963.
Story from AFP
AFP 28 1513 GMT 02 08Copyright© 2007 Petroleumworld. All rights reserved.
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