Security Council Deplores Kenya Violence

The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday deplored the widespread violence in Kenya and urged political leaders to resolve the crisis over disputed elections "through dialogue, negotiation and compromise."

The presidential statement was the first response by the U.N.'s most powerful body to the fighting that erupted after the Dec. 27 presidential election. More than 800 people have been killed in a country once considered among the most stable in Africa.

The council statement expressed concern at the "dire humanitarian situation" in the country, where some 310,000 people have fled their homes, and gave strong backing to negotiations led by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to end the violence.

"The council emphasizes that the only solution to the crisis lies through dialogue, negotiation and compromise and strongly urges Kenya's political leaders to foster reconciliation," the statement said.

Supporters of President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga have been clashing over who won the presidential vote. Odinga is demanding a new election, but Kibaki has refused, arguing his re-election was fair.

Protests since the election have turned violent and deteriorated in many cases into ethnic clashes, with much of the anger aimed at Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe, long resented for dominating politics and the economy.

The council welcomed the announcement of progress in negotiations beteen Kibaki and Odinga on Feb. 1, including the adoption of an agenda and timetable for action to end the crisis.

It urged the two leaders "to implement the actions" they agreed to without delay, "including by meeting their responsibility to engage fully in finding a sustainable political solution and taking action to immediately end violence."

The council said that means ending ethnically motivated attacks, dismantling armed gangs, improving the humanitarian situation and restoring human rights.

"Recalling the need to avoid impunity, the council calls for those responsible for violence to be brought to justice," the statement said.

The original text called for "allegations of electoral abuse to be fully investigated and resolved," but diplomats said that was dropped at Russia's request, as was a subsequent statement expressing regret at "the abuses in the presidential election noted by international and domestic observers."