Kibaki-Raila Win Africa Leaders’ Salute

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who is the chairman of the African Union, led other Heads of State and Government in praising President Kibaki and Mr Odinga.

But there was also caution that conflicts arising from disputed elections were on the rise and a mechanism for reducing or avoiding such incidents should be developed at the continental level.

President Kikwete was opening the 11th summit of the Africa Union Heads of State and Government Summit at the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, attended by other East African Presidents Kibaki, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, among other leaders from across the continent.

President Kikwete and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan witnessed the deal signed between President Kibaki and Mr Odinga that ended nearly two months of violence following disputed Presidential polls.

Other members of the negotiating team led by Mr Annan were former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and former South African First Lady Graca Macel.

President Kikwete and the Chairman of the AU Commission, Mr Jean Ping suggested that Zimbabwe should consider following Kenya’s example in resolving that country’s electoral dispute pitting President Robert Mugabe against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe sat and listened attentively as President Kikwete, Mr Ping and a Deputy UN Secretary General, Asha Rose Migiro, described his country as facing serious challenges following the polls.