Kenya opposition boosted by vote

BBC
1/15/2008

Raila Odinga has the largest party but not an overall majority

Kenya's opposition has won a key vote for Speaker at the first meeting of parliament after disputed elections that sparked a wave of violence.

Its candidate won by just four votes after three tense rounds and following heated exchanges over ballot procedure.

The opposition, which says the presidential vote was rigged, feared the ballot for Speaker would be too.

Meanwhile, ex-UN head Kofi Annan has postponed his mediation trip for "a few days" because of flu, the UN said.

The parliament meeting was the first time opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki had been in the same room since the 27 December election. More than 600 people were killed in unrest that followed.

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