Kibaki 'undermining Kenya mediation'

THE party of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga overnight accused President Mwai Kibaki of undermining former UN chief Kofi Annan's mediation, only hours after the two foes met for the first time since last month's disputed poll.
At a news conference, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretary general Anyang Nyongo lashed out at the president, accusing him of seeking to use the landmark meeting to legitimise his presidency.
"We denounce and categorically reject the unfortunate statement by Mister Kibaki that he is the duly elected president of Kenya," Mr Nyongo said.
"True to his fraudulent character, Mister Mwai Kibaki abused the occasion by attempting to legitimise his usurpation of the presidency," he said.
"After being sworn in as your duly elected president of Kenya, I will personnally lead our country in promoting unity, tolerance peace and harmony among our Kenyans," Mr Kibaki said, speaking in public after his meeting with Mr Annan and Mr Odinga.
Mr Odinga charges Mr Kibaki rigged his way to re-election in the December 27 election, sparking a wave of nationwide violence that has left close to 800 dead and a quarter of a million displaced.
"His (Kibaki's) demeaning and unacceptable behaviour is clearly meant to undermine the mediation and to prolong the suffering of the people of Kenya," Mr Nyongo said.
The ODM official went on to reiterate his movement's rejection of Mr Kibaki's victory.
The incumbent took the oath on December 30 barely an hour after the electoral commission declared him the winner, despite widespread accusations of fraud during the tallying process.
Government spokesman Alfred Mutua returned the accusation, saying that ODM should refrain from making such statements outside the framework of the mediation.
"President Mwai Kibaki is the duly elected and sworn in president of Kenya. Any issues arising after today's events should be discussed in the dialogue," Mr Mutua said.
"It's unfortunate that the ODM comes up with this statement after the whole world watched president Kibaki and Mister Odinga launch efforts for dialogue and reconciliation," he said.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23106170-23109,00.html