Annan: Meeting 'encouraging'

2008-01-24 17:21

Nairobi - Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga smiled and shook hands on Thursday after their first meeting since last month's disputed presidential election.

The two men appeared in public after their landmark meeting at the president's office mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan, who described the meeting as "a very encouraging development".

Odinga also praised the meeting as a crucial step towards ending the crisis which has left close to 800 people dead since the December 27 polls, which he claims Kibaki rigged.

"We have taken the first vital steps in resolving electoral disputes," he told reporters.

"I ask everyone to be patient and uphold peace in a spirit of brotherhood."

- AFP