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US welcomes Kenya deal
14/04/2008 07:22 - (SA)
Washington - The United States on Sunday welcomed Kenya's power-sharing agreement, calling it an "important first step" toward a solving the country's political crisis, and urging prompt institutional reforms.
"The US welcomes the announcement by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga that they have reached agreement on the composition of the coalition cabinet," state department spokesperson Sean McCormack said in a statement.
He commended the two leaders for "making the courageous decisions necessary to move the nation forward. Formation of the cabinet is an important step along the road toward full implementation of the political accord".
The spokesperson called on Kibaki and Odinga to "maintain momentum by moving quickly to carry out institutional reforms, particularly with respect to revision of the constitution, reform of the electoral process, and land issues.
"We also urge them to personally lead efforts to promote reconciliation," McCormack said, adding that the US was ready to provide "strong support for the coalition government" as it works to improve the lives of all Kenyans.
The new 42-member cabinet replaced the 17-member government that Kibaki had hastily assembled after his contested re-election in December.
Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had accused Kibaki of stealing the election and both parties blamed the other for the ensuing eruption of violence that claimed 1 500 lives nationwide and left hundreds of thousands displaced.
The power-sharing agreement was brokered by former United Nations chief Kofi Annan, amid intense international pressure for Kibaki and Odinga to bring an end to the unrest.
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