Talks to end post-election violence in Kenya have been suspended, former UN head and mediator Kofi Annan said Tuesday, accordnig to BBC online.
Mr Annan said that negotiations had become acrimonious (skarp/bitter) and that the situation had become “very dangerous”. He would speak to President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to find a way to move forward “much faster”.
The government and opposition are stalled on securing a power-sharing deal. The opposition has threatened to stage protests across Kenya from Thursday if no deal is reached.
Both sides agreed last week to create the post of prime minister, which would be taken by Mr Odinga, leading to hopes of a final deal soon. However, they still needed to finalise which powers the new PM would have.
The government now says the president should appoint the prime minister, which would not be an executive post. The rivals are also split on sharing cabinet positions and the possibility of a new election if the coalition collapses.
Justice Minister Martha Karua said the dispute was over whether to entrench a power-sharing agreement in the constitution or just make statutory amendments.
But Musalia Mudavadi of Mr Odingas Orange Democratic Movement said that from the beginning both parties had agreed that constitutional and legal amendments might be needed. Mudavadi stated there were no indications that the government wanted to give a new prime minister any meaningful powers.
At least 1.500 people have been killed in ethnic and political violence since the disputed election. Mr Kibaki claimed victory in the 27 December election, but Mr Odinga said the poll was rigged.
