Today's headlines - Wed. 4/9/2008

updated 4 hours, 17 minutes ago

Kenya warned by U.S. over Cabinet row
Story Highlights

• NEW: Kenya's main parties warned by U.S. after halting power-sharing talks
• Government and opposition have disagreed over key ministries in the Cabinet
• U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice contacts both parties' leaders
• She tells them to reach an agreement or U.S. will "act accordingly"
  

(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged Kenya's government and opposition party to agree on the composition of their coalition Cabinet after the two sides suspended talks on power-sharing.

[Photo] A supporter of opposition leader Raila Odinga shouts during protests Tuesday in the Kibera slum of Nairobi.

Rice warned that the United States would "act accordingly" if they failed to reach an agreement.

The opposition Orange Democratic Movement said Tuesday it was suspending talks with President Mwai Kibaki's Party of National Unity because they failed to agree on a balanced Cabinet.

Rice said she had spoken separately by telephone with Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga -- who would become prime minister in the new government -- and urged them to "implement real power-sharing by agreeing on the composition of their coalition cabinet."

"It is imperative that they form the Cabinet without further delay and address the vitally important work of the nation," Rice said in a statement dated Tuesday.

"The United States and the entire international community stand ready to assist the coalition government and to help ensure that the provisions of the February 28 political accord are fully respected.

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Kenyan leaders in conflict over Cabinet

"Should the accord not be implemented, however, the United States will form its own judgments regarding responsibility for lack of implementation of the accord, and act accordingly."

Kibaki and Odinga signed a power-sharing agreement on February 28 to end two months of chaos and violence which followed the disputed presidential election. Incumbent Kibaki narrowly won amid allegations the vote was rigged.

The United Nations estimates that about 1,000 people were killed and another 300,000 were driven from their homes during the violence.

The agreement called for Cabinet positions to be distributed equally, but the two sides have disagreed over the division of ministries.

Kenya's government contends Odinga is making unrealistic demands for key ministries like foreign affairs, local government, and energy.

ODM supporters of the opposition party clashed with police Tuesday after the suspension of talks.

Police used tear gas on a crowd of Odinga's supporters in Nairobi's large Kibera slum, according to a CNN cameraman.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/09/kenya.rice/?iref=mpstoryview

Kenya warned by US over Cabinet
CNN International - 2 hours ago
(CNN) -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged Kenya's government and opposition party to agree on the composition of their coalition Cabinet after the two sides suspended talks on power-sharing.

Unrest in Kenya as Peace Plan Falters New York Times
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Kenya Is Back On Edge
HULIQ (press release), NC - 1 hour ago
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Kenya: End Cabinet Stalemate, Says Envoy
AllAfrica.com, Washington - 14 hours ago
The Rwandese ambassador to Kenya has called for a quick resolution of the Cabinet stalemate. "Kenya can solve this problem. What happened should never be ...

Kenya: Fresh Protests in Kibera, Kisumu Over Impasse
AllAfrica.com, Washington - 15 hours ago
Fresh violent protests to push for a balanced Cabinet broke out in Kibera slums and Kisumu. In Kibera, the protestors vandalised the railway line, ...

BBC video:

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