Kenya's feuding political factions have agreed to an independent review of a disputed December election that prompted bloody unrest, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday.
Annan, chief mediator, said a power-sharing agreement has not been worked out, but that negotiators are making progress.
"Let me assure you that there is real momentum," Annan said. "We are at the water's edge and the last difficult and frightening step, as difficult as it is, will be taken."
Talks will resume next week as negotiators try to work out a power-sharing between President Mwai Kibaki's party and opposition leader Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement. Kibaki claimed victory in the Dec. 27 voted, but Odinga said the election was rigged. The dispute triggered violence that has left more than 1,000 dead.
The preliminary agreement signed Thursday also includes a plan for a new constitution to be drawn up within a year. That could make way for a stronger prime minister who would share power with the president.
President Bush said Thursday he is sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Kenya. Rice and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer plan to travel on Monday to Nairobi, where they will meet with Kibaki, Odinga and civic leaders.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDAzMjM2NDYzMDEyMzc1Njk5NjAxNzY3OQ001))
