Kenyan Rivals Make Deal for Election Review

No progress seen on power-sharing or new government structure
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 15, 2008 5:08 PM CST
Kenyan Rivals Make Deal for Election Review
Chief mediator and former U.N. chief Kofi Annan walks to a news conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday Feb. 15, 2008. Kenya's political rivals have agreed on the need for an independent review of the election at the center of their dispute, but the difficult question of sharing power has yet to be resolved,...   (Associated Press)

Kenya’s president and opposition leader today unveiled an agreement to examine the hotly contested Dec. 27 election, but the sides have made no progress on a deal to share power, the AP reports. "There is real momentum," said mediator and ex-UN chief Kofi Annan. The deal also calls for the drafting of a new constitution within a year.

The committee to examine the election will include both Kenyans and outsiders and is expected to produce a report in 3 to 6 months. Some Kenyans are frustrated that the pact omitted power-sharing: "Why are they not hitting the main issue so we can have a normal life in Kenya?" asked one Kenyan, weary of unrest that has left 1,000 dead. (More Africa stories.)

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