Kenya opposition calls for protests after talks fail

Kenya’s main opposition party is planning mass rallies across the East African country, a spokesman said today.

Tony Gachoka said the protest call was a response to the failure of African Union mediation talks to resolve a deadly dispute over presidential election results which has left more than 500 people dead.

Previous opposition attempts to rally have been blocked by police firing tear gas, water cannons and live bullets over people’s heads.

Mr Gachoka said the party would “declare the resumption of mass protest against irregular presidential results”.

African Union chairman President John Kufuor, of Ghana, left Nairobi today after two days’ of mediation failed to get President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to agree even to meet.

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has agreed to take over talks but is not expected to arrive in Nairobi before Tuesday, his office in Geneva said.