Kenya's opposition leader on Wednesday called off planned protests after mediator Kofi Annan pushed the country's feuding leaders to resolve deadlocked political crisis talks.

Orange Democratic Movement chief Raila Odinga said the party heeded Annan's request to suspend the demonstrations planned for Thursday to press for a power-sharing deal with the government.

"We will postpone until further notice any kind of actions intended for tomorrow," Odinga told reporters after meeting with the former United Nations secretary general.

Annan on Tuesday suspended negotiations between government and opposition representatives, citing lack of progress on the details of a prime minister's post as part of political settlement.

He said Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki "have to assume their responsibilities and become directly engaged in these talks."

UN chief and Annan's successor Ban Ki-Moon on Wednesday evening backed Annan's "tireless" resolve to bring about a lasting solution.

"The secretary-general is grateful for the continuing and tireless facilitation efforts of the panel led by the former secretary-general, Kofi Annan, which have his full support," his press office said in a statement.

Ban urged Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki "to maintain the positive momentum" in efforts to settle their bitter dispute.

In a common statement, 23 foreign missions in Kenya also urged the pair not to undermine the process.

"We cannot emphasise enough the responsibility that Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga have personally for ensuring that these talks reach a successful conclusion," they said.

Odinga's party had threatened last week to hold protests if Kibaki fails to recall parliament to enact constitutional amendments in order to share power.

Odinga accused Kibaki of rigging the 27 December presidential election and then called for nationwide rallies, which quickly turned into tribal killings and revenge attacks that claimed more than 1500 lives.

Hundreds of thousands of people have also been uprooted, mainly in the capital's slums and Kenya's fertile western region.

Kibaki said the post of prime minister and two deputies would be created under the current constitution pending a comprehensive constitutional review in 12 months.

The will of the Kenyan people

After talks with Annan, Kibaki said in a statement that "he would do all within his powers to see that the process of national dialogue and reconciliation succeeded and reflected the will of the Kenyan people."

The two sides have differed on the roles of the prime minister; with the opposition insisting on a powerful premier while the government has offered a non-executive office.

European Commissioner for Development Louis Michel said on Wednesday he was concerned by the failure of the rivals to agree.

"I am strongly concerned that the Kenyan leaders still have not delivered on their commitment to reaching agreement on the real sharing of power and reforms needed to effectively govern Kenya," Michel said in a statement.

"The European Union is determined to take all appropriate measures and all options are being considered," he added without giving details.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who attended talks in Kenya earlier this month in a bid to help broker a compromise, said on Tuesday there was "no excuse" for the delay in resolving the crisis.

Kenya's Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula rejected any imposed solution to end the crisis.

"Our international friends, as we have stated before, are welcome to make suggestions and to support the dialogue process but not to impose solutions," he said in a statement.

"All the relevant factors must be taken into account to avoid making rush judgement based on incomplete information," he added.

African Union chief Jakaya Kikwete, also the president of neighbouring Tanzania, held separate talks with Kibaki and Odinga as international pressure to seal a deal holds firm.

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.

AFP

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