Saturday, February 23, 2008
The last hurdle to new prime minister
Story by SATURDAY NATION Team
Publication Date: 2/23/2008
Only a constitutional amendment seemed to stand in the way of the long-awaited settlement to the country’s post-election crisis Friday after a day of long talks and factional consultations.
Armed And Dangerous
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
22 February 2008
Posted to the web 22 February 2008
Nairobi
Kenya is at risk of plunging into a new wave of violence, despite progress in negotiations to end a political crisis, because several armed groups are mobilising on all sides of the country’s ethno-political divisions, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG) think-tank.
Firearms are much less widely available in Kenya than in neighbouring countries. In the context of this article, “armed groups” include those using machetes, spears, poison arrows and clubs.
MoreBLACK STUDENTS SET TO RALLY THIS TUESDAY
For Immediate Release
Friday February 22nd 2008
BLACK STUDENTS SET TO RALLY THIS TUESDAY
Student Group Board Set on Fire, Anti-racist Material Destroyed
Last week a bulletin board belonging to Ryerson’s East African Students group was set on fire. Material put ablaze included a series of campaigns under the slogans of “United to End Racism,” “Education not Occupation,” “No Justice No Peace,” “Boycott Israeli Apartheid,” and “De-Colonize Ryerson.” Petitions on the board calling for university-based ESL provisions and equitable access to refugee students were also put to flames. Toronto Police have launched an investigation.
AU chief urges Kenya political deal
AU chief urges Kenya political deal
Ping says negotiations to end the Kenya impasse are moving forward in the right direction [AFP]
Africa’s most senior diplomat has urged Kenya’s feuding parties to come to a deal after the government agreed to a power-sharing deal to help end a deadly post-election crisis.
Jean Ping, the newly elected African Union chairman, said in Nairobi: “The weekend will be crucial.
“We hope that next week we’ll have something which can be agreed.”
Ping, elected at an AU summit in Ethiopia in February, is the latest in a succession of high-powered visitors who have pushed Kenyan leaders towards common ground.
MoreKenya talks to resume Monday
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-23 15:27
NAIROBI - Mediators trying to resolve Kenya’s political deadlock adjourned talks on Friday night without clinching a political settlement on the post of prime minister which is one of the options for a political settlement.
Chief mediator Kofi Annan said while some progress had been made during Friday’s discussions on governance structure, the parties felt there were still some issues on which they need to consult their principals.
“I have asked them to consult over the weekend and return on Monday prepared to conclude an agreement,” the former UN chief said in a statement released last night.
He reminded the negotiators of the urgency of the talks and the high expectations of the people of Kenya, the East African region and the world.
Annan urged both President Mwai Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga to give their negotiators clear instructions so that talks can move swiftly to conclusion when talks resume Monday.