Kenyan newspapers on Friday urged feuding political leaders to drop "sideshows and rhetoric" and make "sacrifices" at the Kofi Annan-mediated talks to end the crisis that has shaken the country.

After weeks of posturing, the rivals — President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga — are haggling over a power-sharing deal that could see the opposition given a special "non-executive" prime minister's post.

The Standard newspaper said tough political, social and economic issues being negotiated pose less of a problem to the talks than reckless talk by rival politicians.

"These are not the major threats to the talks — sideshows and rhetoric are. Politicians on both sides of the divide are to blame," Standard wrote in an editorial.

"They (politicians) have been giving demands and issuing ultimatums of what they will take and what they won't as if they are part of the talks. They are not," it added.

Referring the opposition threat to call for fresh mass action by next Wednesday if parliament is not reconvened, the paper said: "Some have threatened a return to the ugly images of last month ostensibly to have their way. And this is where they get it wrong."

Mass circulation Daily Nation told negotiators that reforms being sought should serve the whole nation and not party interests.

"Proposed amendments should not target personalities or political parties. Reforms should focus on broad governance principles with a clear roadmap and implementation timeframe," Nation said in an editorial.

"In all these things, time is of the essence. Patience is running out and the people are becoming restive. This is why we ask the negotiators of the two parties to think of Kenya and make sacrifices to save a great nation that has every potential of being greater still," the nation concluded.

Annan is leading African Union-sponsored mediation efforts after Odinga accused Kibaki of rigging the 27 December presidential election, touching off nationwide rioting and tribal killings.

Since then, more than 1000 people have been killed and 300 000 displaced in unrest that has shaken the country's reputation as a bastion of stability in a region blighted by conflicts.

AFP

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