Kenyan leader names new cabinet

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has named new ministers, hours before Ghana's leader was due to arrive as part of mediation efforts over disputed polls.

Mr Kibaki named Kalonzo Musyoka, who came third in last month's election, as vice-president but no-one from the main opposition party was appointed.

A BBC correspondent says the move could derail the efforts of Ghana's John Kufuor, who heads the African Union.

Violence after the polls has left some 600 people dead across the country.

Raila Odinga, who claims that fraud robbed him of victory in the polls, has meanwhile said that he will not attend talks with Mr Kibaki on Friday, unless they are led by Mr Kufuor.

He says Mr Kibaki should step down and new polls be conducted.

In that context, the BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says Mr Kibaki's move, in naming some members of his new cabinet, could be seen as a provocative act.

The 17 cabinet members named on Tuesday include at least one other member of Mr Musyoka's party, as well as Uhuru Kenyatta, from the former ruling Kanu party.

While many former cabinet members lost their seats in the parliamentary elections, Mr Kibaki has retained several close allies.