World

Kenyan Presidential Rival Rejects Talks

by Rob Walker | January 8, 2008 at 06:58 am

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The common theory yesterday was that they would refuse to meet with him as it would seem to legitimize his presidency, which is the main cause of clashes and battles that have taken hundreds of lives across the country since the Election on Dec. 27.

Kenya's opposition leader today said he would not meet President Mwai Kibaki to try to address the country's growing political upheaval.

Raila Odinga rejected a government offer for bilateral talks to end a wave of violence that has killed about 500 people across the east African state.

Ghana's president, John Kufuor, chairman of the African Union, is due to arrive in Kenya today to try to meet Odinga and Kibaki.

He hopes to bring the two leaders together to help quell the week of riots and reprisals since Kibaki's disputed re-election last month.

Today, however, Odinga dismissed the proposed talks, which Kibaki has chosen not to invite Kufuor to, as a "sideshow".

He told a news conference: "We will not attend the talks on Friday. They are a sideshow."

"We want to engage in the negotiations under Mr Kufuor with utmost seriousness to make sure no stone remains unturned in the search for electoral justice."

Odinga accused Kibaki of trying to divert attention from Kufuor's mission by offering bilateral talks.