Kufuor arrives Tuesday for talks

Ghanaian President John Kufuor is expected in the country Tuesday over the political crisis occasioned by the disputed presidential election results.

At the same time, ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga, yesterday called off rallies planned for today in various venues in Nairobi and other towns.

Raila said the cancellation would allow the peace talks "to take place in a peaceful environment".

Raila spoke to the Press after a two-hour closed-door meeting with the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr Jendayi Frazer, at the US Ambassador’s residence in Nairobi.

Raila also took issue with media reports to the effect that he had rejected the proposal for a coalition government. He clarified that he was opposed to a Government of National Unity, adding: "There is a difference between the two."

In an apparent softening of his hard-line stance, Raila assured that he would "pursue all legal and peaceful means to ensure the true results of the elections are respected".

But when pressed to clarify whether the party would go to court, which Raila had dismissed as tools of the Executive, the Lang’ata MP-elect said "mediation" includes legal redress.

Eldoret North and Aldai MPs-elect, Mr William Ruto and Dr Sally Kosgei, also attended the meeting.

Raila said he had telephoned Kufuor to confirm that the African Union chairman would be coming. He said Kufuor had received an official invitation from President Kibaki.

The President had sent Foreign Affairs Assistant minister, Mr Moses Wetangula, to Ghana to arrange the talks.

"The meeting went very well," Wetangula told a UK newspaper, The Guardian, on Sunday. "I briefed President Kufuor on the situation and he will visit Nairobi this week. I would not like to use the word ‘mediate’, but he will talk to all parties."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the possibility of a fresh election would have to form part of Kufuor’s discussions.

"This is about saving lives, but it’s also about sending a message about democracy in Africa," Brown said.

Government Spokesman, Dr Alfred Mutua, said Kibaki was ready for another election so long as the law was followed.

He added the Government would soon publish a document on how the President won the polls.

ODM had insisted that an international mediator, and specifically the Ghanaian leader, be invited to chair the arbitration, which is expected to end bloodletting sparked off by the declaration of Kibaki as winner.

Yesterday, when asked what specific role Kufuor was expected to play, Raila, who believes he was robbed of victory, said the President would shepherd the process to an amicable solution.

"We are in dispute and we want a facilitator so that we put our cards on the table and we expect the Government to place theirs. We all hope to arrive at an acceptable solution to deal with the political crisis," he said.

Standard (Kenya)