Kibaki and Odinga meet for first time in Kenya crisis

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki met opposition leader Raila Odinga on Thursday for the first time since a disputed election triggered weeks of bloodshed, a major breakthrough brokered by former U.N. boss Kofi Annan.

The two leaders had not talked since the December 27 polls despite pressure from Western powers and millions of anxious Kenyans horrified by nearly 700 deaths in political violence.

Annan arrived first at the talks with Odinga and several senior government officials. The president walked in shortly afterwards. No one commented before the closed-door session began inside the president's office.

The meeting raised hopes as a human rights watchdog accused opposition party officials of organizing tribal violence in the country's Rift Valley, echoing government allegations.