Odinga refuses talks on Kenya violence

Kenya’s main opposition leader today scuppered plans for peace talks it was hoped would end the political violence threatening to tip the country into chaos.

Raila Odinga refused an invitation to meet President Mwai Kibaki, whose disputed election is at the heart of the crisis.

Mr Odinga told a news conference that he believed Mr Kibaki was “trying to deflect attention from and undermine” international efforts to end nationwide riots which have left 500 people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless.

He described the planned meeting on Friday as “public relations gimmickry”.

Mr Odinga had previously said he would attend if it were part of international mediation efforts.