Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki (r) meets AU chairman Jean Ping
African Union Commission chairman is hopeful of a quick resolution to the Kenyan political crisis amid talks over a power-sharing deal.
Jean Ping, who arrived in the country on Thursday, held talks with former UN Secretary General and chief mediator Kofi Annan as well as Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.
He also met with opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in absence of party's leader Raila Odinga, who was on a visit to Nigeria.
"I am confident. I think that the mediators will succeed in their mediation. I want to say that we give to the team the full support of the commission," Ping told reporters at a press conference.
"We are satisfied with the progress made on the Kenya national dialogue and reconciliation," he added, stressing that the weekend would be 'crucial' and expressing hope that the negotiator teams would reach an agreement.
The rival sides have agreed in principle to create the post of a prime minister, but are yet to agree on its terms and responsibilities. The ODM insists on a powerful premier while the government has offered a non-executive office.Meanwhile, Odinga left for Nigeria for 'consultations', according to officials who did not indicate the nature of his unannounced visit to the west African nation.
The ODM parliamentary group also renewed threats to launch protests, saying it would call for mass civil disobedience if Annan-lead team failed to reach a tangible outcome by Feb. 27.
Kenya's political crisis came on the heels of Kibaki's controversial victory in the December 27 presidential vote, which Odinga maintains was rigged. The disputed vote followed by massive street protests, which later turned into tribal fighting, leaving at least 1,000 people killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:33:44
Press TV - AU chief satisfied with Kenya talks
