Kenya’s president and his chief rival made key concessions to end the dispute over the country’s elections, calling off protests and agreeing to talks under pressure from the US as the death toll from a week of violence reached nearly 500.

Kenya’s opposition leader called today for rallies across the country, raising the prospect of renewed bloodshed even as he indicated he was willing to negotiate a power-sharing agreement to resolve the explosive electoral crisis.

Kenya’s president is ready to form “a government of national unity” to help resolve disputed elections that caused deadly riots, a government statement said today.

Kenya’s opposition party today called for a new presidential election to settle the disputed vote that has sparked days of deadly riots.

Kenya’s embattled opposition vowed to stage another day of rallies today, setting the scene for more violence amid a political deadlock between the president and his chief rival.

United Nations staff in Baghdad were told to stay at home today after a massive truck bomb levelled their headquarters and killed at least 20 people, including the top UN envoy in Iraq.

A cement truck packed with explosives detonated outside the offices of the top UN envoy in Iraq, killing him and 19 other people.