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Kenya opposition calls off protests |
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Kenya's opposition has called off planned street protests intended to pressure the government into agreeing to a power-sharing deal. |
Raila Odinga backed down over Thursday's planned protests as he and Mwai Kabaki, the president, came under increasing pressure to reach a compromise deal to end the country's post-election crisis.
"We ... are committed to the talks," Odinga told reporters on Wednesday after meeting with Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general who is mediating crisis talks in Kenya.
"We have postponed until further notice any actions planned for tomorrow."
Talks still possible
The disputed presidential vote on December 27 last year sparked violence that killed over 1,000 people and fears of further violence grew last week when Odinga announced nationwide protests would take place on Thursday.
Past protests have led to clashes with police and resulted in casualties.
"Kenyans are breathing a sigh of relief," Yvonne Indege, Al Jazzera correspondent in Nairobi, reported.
She said Odinga's decision to call off the protests was "evidence perhaps that Kofi Annan is starting to get somewhere with these two parties".
Annan, who asked Odinga to call off the demonstrations, suspended month-long crisis talks on Tuesday as both sides blamed each other for the deadlock in negotiations.
Annan said he would personally appeal to the two leaders to strike a deal because talks were "turning around in circles".
But he emphasised the talks had not been abandoned and said on Wednesday that a solution could still be reached.
"Issues that divide the parties are bridgeable ... with political will," Annan said. "The solution must be found in the mediation room."
AU mediation
In an editorial, Kenya's The Daily Nation newspaper said: "If violence breaks out and drives the country into war as a result of the failure [of the negotiations], the blood of its victims will be on the hands of the politicians who made it impossible for Dr Annan to reunite Kenya."
Jakaya Kikwete, Tanzania's president and chairman of the African Union, arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday to bolster international efforts for a deal.
Kikwete is scheduled to meet Kibaki and Odinga during his visit.
On Tuesday Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, criticised Kibaki and Odinga for failing to end their political standoff and said Washington would take "necessary steps" if a solution was not found.
The country remains on edge with fears that fresh bouts of tribal fighting could break out.
Violence has also forced at least 600,000 people from their homes, mainly in the capital's slums and western region, regarded as the country's breadbasket.
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