February 11, 2009 3:29 PM
- Text
Kenya's Death Toll Surpasses 1,000
(AP)
Talks to end weeks of post-election violence in Kenya resumed Tuesday on difficult political issues, as business leaders voiced concern about the turmoil's effect on the economy.
Violence sparked by a dispute over who won Dec. 27 presidential elections has killed more than 1,000 people and made 300,000 homeless - among them 12,000 Kenyans Ugandan authorities said had crossed the border. The crisis also "has significantly damaged the domestic economy," Global Insight said in a report, downgrading its prediction for growth in 2008 to 4 percent. Earlier, the consultancy company had predicted 6.1 percent growth for Kenya.
The report was released as former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan heard business leaders' concerns about the impact of the crisis before chairing Tuesday's session of peace talks between the country's political rivals.
Protests since the election, followed by a vote count foreign and local observers say was rigged, have deteriorated into ethnic clashes, with much of the anger aimed at President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe, long resented for dominating politics and the economy.
Annan managed to bring Kibaki and his chief rival, Raila Odinga, together for talks and negotiators from both sides last week agreed to take immediate action to end the violence and said they would complete talks within 15 days on measures to resolve the political crisis. Annan predicted that Tuesday's agenda would be tough.
Annan has cautioned that it would take up to a year to solve deeper problems.
On Monday, the two sides signed a two-page agreement on immediate measures, including helping people return to their homes safely and providing food and shelter for the displaced.
They welcomed a U.N. human rights team to investigate the violence, and agreed on Annan's plan for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission with local and international jurists.
Annan's chief mediator, Cyril Ramaphosa, withdrew Monday because of objections by Kibaki's government and ruling party. The South African businessman had played a leading role in talks to end apartheid in his own country. The U.N. office organizing the meetings said the talks would continue and Annan would search for a new chief mediator.
In an interview published Monday, U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger said Washington respected the Annan-led talks, but expressed reservations.
"There is serious concern whether leaders can come together to work out a solution acceptable to Kenyans," he was quoted as telling The Standard daily. "The post-election (situation) revealed deep underlying problems that must be addressed as well."
He also reiterated the U.S. would deny visas to politicians seen to foment violence or who worked against peace.
"It is important that Kenyans know that people who do not cooperate to achieve peace and those responsible for violence will not be viewed positively. We have identified a number of people that could potentially be subject to these," Ranneberger said, but gave no details.
Separately, Britain announced it would double aid to Kenya, providing 1.2 million pounds (euro1.6 million; US$2.4 million) for humanitarian relief.
In western Kenya, scene of some of the worst bloodshed, thousands fled their homes Tuesday leaving behind burned houses and rubble. At least seven people were killed in battles between Kisii and Kalenjin communities in a region 150 miles west of the capital, Nairobi. Hundreds of youths - armed with bows and arrows and machetes - have fought there for nine days, forcing 2,000 people to flee.
The Kenya Red Cross on Monday put the official toll at 1,000 killed, thousands injured and 304,000 homeless.
Violence sparked by a dispute over who won Dec. 27 presidential elections has killed more than 1,000 people and made 300,000 homeless - among them 12,000 Kenyans Ugandan authorities said had crossed the border. The crisis also "has significantly damaged the domestic economy," Global Insight said in a report, downgrading its prediction for growth in 2008 to 4 percent. Earlier, the consultancy company had predicted 6.1 percent growth for Kenya.
The report was released as former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan heard business leaders' concerns about the impact of the crisis before chairing Tuesday's session of peace talks between the country's political rivals.
Protests since the election, followed by a vote count foreign and local observers say was rigged, have deteriorated into ethnic clashes, with much of the anger aimed at President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe, long resented for dominating politics and the economy.
Annan managed to bring Kibaki and his chief rival, Raila Odinga, together for talks and negotiators from both sides last week agreed to take immediate action to end the violence and said they would complete talks within 15 days on measures to resolve the political crisis. Annan predicted that Tuesday's agenda would be tough.
Annan has cautioned that it would take up to a year to solve deeper problems.
On Monday, the two sides signed a two-page agreement on immediate measures, including helping people return to their homes safely and providing food and shelter for the displaced.
They welcomed a U.N. human rights team to investigate the violence, and agreed on Annan's plan for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission with local and international jurists.
Annan's chief mediator, Cyril Ramaphosa, withdrew Monday because of objections by Kibaki's government and ruling party. The South African businessman had played a leading role in talks to end apartheid in his own country. The U.N. office organizing the meetings said the talks would continue and Annan would search for a new chief mediator.
In an interview published Monday, U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger said Washington respected the Annan-led talks, but expressed reservations.
"There is serious concern whether leaders can come together to work out a solution acceptable to Kenyans," he was quoted as telling The Standard daily. "The post-election (situation) revealed deep underlying problems that must be addressed as well."
He also reiterated the U.S. would deny visas to politicians seen to foment violence or who worked against peace.
"It is important that Kenyans know that people who do not cooperate to achieve peace and those responsible for violence will not be viewed positively. We have identified a number of people that could potentially be subject to these," Ranneberger said, but gave no details.
Separately, Britain announced it would double aid to Kenya, providing 1.2 million pounds (euro1.6 million; US$2.4 million) for humanitarian relief.
In western Kenya, scene of some of the worst bloodshed, thousands fled their homes Tuesday leaving behind burned houses and rubble. At least seven people were killed in battles between Kisii and Kalenjin communities in a region 150 miles west of the capital, Nairobi. Hundreds of youths - armed with bows and arrows and machetes - have fought there for nine days, forcing 2,000 people to flee.
The Kenya Red Cross on Monday put the official toll at 1,000 killed, thousands injured and 304,000 homeless.
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