Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
January 8, 2008

Kenyan Opposition Leader Rejects Bilateral Talks with President Kibaki
----------------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1AD7886:A6F02AD83191E1606A84A2A9D3BD5D8D2A201403E89ED254& Raila Odinga says
president Mwai Kibaki is trying to undermine international mediation
efforts to break stalemate, believes offer for talks is public
relations ploy



" hspace=2 src="/english/images/ap_Kenya_odinga_5janv07_eng_195.jpg"
width=210 vspace=2 border=0>

Raila Odinga Kenya's main opposition leader Raila Odinga says he will
not meet with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki for bilateral talks.

Mr. Odinga told reporters in Nairobi Tuesday,  that he believes a
government offer for talks is a public relations ploy.  He said the
president is trying to undermine international mediation efforts to
break a stalemate over last month's disputed presidential elections.

On Monday, Mr. Kibaki invited his election rival for talks to work out
their differences. Mr. Odinga previously said he was not willing to
hold such talks unless international negotiators are present.







John Kufuor (file photo)The current head of the African Union is due
to arrive in Kenya  Tuesday. Ghanaian President John Kufuor expected
to encourage Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga to meet and work toward ending
the country's crisis.

Kenya's government has said nearly 500 people died during
post-election violence, but the opposition leader says the figure is
twice that.

The country's finance minister estimates the chaos that followed the
vote may have cost the economy more than $15 million.

Mr. Odinga's party is demanding new elections, but the government has
said it will accept that proposal only if a court orders a new vote.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer
met separately with the two leaders to try and forge political
reconciliation.

Frazer said the vote-counting was rigged, and she urged Kenyan leaders
to quickly resolve the crisis and implement political, social and
electoral reforms.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.


.