Annan calls for restraint from Kenyan leaders

FORMER United Nations chief Kofi Annan has appealed for restraint from the leading players in the post-election crisis in Kenya, in a bid to prevent another flare-up of violence.

Mr Annan appealed to "all Kenyan leaders, government as well as the opposition in the country to avoid any measures or steps that would further compromise, the search for an amicable solution to the country's crisis".

The appeal came in a statement issued from Ghana after he met Ghana President John Kufour, a day after the African Union chief failed to talks the fueding Kenyans out of their hardline positions.

Mr Annan has agreed to work with both President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to try to resolve the crisis, sparked by the contested re-election of Mr Kibaki to the presidency. Mr Annan will lead a panel of African elderly statesmen to try to find a resolution to the crisis.

Nairobi has maintained it does not need a mediator, but would welcome anybody to facilitate dialogue and the opposition insists a mediator must be in place before any dialogue takes place.

The panel of elederly statesmen "do not intend to impose solutions but rather work with the Kenyans to find a solution that is viable and long-lasting," said the statement.

"(Annan) added that that political negotiation is not an event but a process that can relatively take long or short time depending on the leadership, maturity as well as the generosity of those involved," the statement added.

Mr Odinga accused Mr Kibaki of rigging the December 27 presidential elections, and the news of Mr Kibaki's election victory sparked nationwide rioting that rapidly descended into tribal vendettas.

The violence left at least 600 people dead and forced nearly 260,000 people from their homes.

Mr Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) called Friday for fresh protests after a mediation effort led by Mr Kufuor failed on Thursday, deepening the crisis in the east African state.

Although police have banned the protests, the Government urged Kenyans to reject the opposition call and go about their business next week when the opposition rallies are planned.

"Let us not take political disagreements to the streets. Instead let use the systems available to us and respect our constitution and each other," Government spokesman Alfred Mutua said in a statement.

"The leaders calling on you as a Kenyan, to take to the streets to burn shops and destroy property will not be with you or your family when you have no jobs anymore because you destroyed the offices that could have employed you or when you are insecure and live in fear of your neighbours who you molested," Mr Mutua said.

"They will be in their well protected fortresses eating sumptuous meals and sending their children overseas to study. Therefore, we should reject violence and calls for demonstrations that do not improve our livelihoods but sustain political mischief of a few people," the statement added.

ODM secretary general Anyang Nyongo said the protests would serve to underscore the urgency of resolving the unprecedented crisis that is pushing Kenya, once a beacon of stability, towards break up.

"We are not pre-empting anything ... what we are doing is fortifying the mediation by involving the peace of Kenya," he told reporters of the demonstration scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The police, who have forcefully dispersed previous ODM demonstrations, have said that an earlier ban on protests is still in force, sparking fears of fresh clashes at the first protest next Wednesday.

On Friday, Mr Kibaki reiterated his call for dialogue to end a post-election crisis, hours after the announcement of fresh opposition protests.