VOA常速英语2008年-Kenyan Opposition Suspends Demonstrations

Kenya's opposition¹ party says it is suspending anti-government demonstrations² planned for Thursday despite the lack of progress toward resolving the country's ongoing³ political crisis. The opposition said the postponement⁵ was made at the request of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan who is trying to broker⁶ a power sharing deal between the two sides. VOA's Scott Bobb reports from Nairobi.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga suspended demonstrations planned for Thursday after meeting Wednesday with chief mediator⁷ Kofi Annan.

"I would like to announce here and now on behalf of our movement that we will postpone⁴, we have therefore postponed⁸ until further notice any kind of actions that were intended for tomorrow [Thursday]," he said.

Mr. Odinga said his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) remained committed to the success of the talks and did not wish to put roadblocks in their way.  There were fears that the protests might degenerate⁹ into violence as they did after the results were announced for the disputed presidential election.

Mr. Annan also met with President Mwai Kibaki who issued a statement saying the differences between the two parties were not insurmountable.

The former U.N. Secretary-General suspended the talks Tuesday saying progress was too slow and the negotiators appeared to have lost the will to compromise.  He said he would engage directly with the leaders of the two sides to try to break the impasse¹⁰.

"I think the issues that divide the parties are bridgeable, but it does require political will, leadership and wisdom to move forward," he said.

He said the parties know the Kenyan people have been traumatized by the violence that killed 1,000 people and displaced several hundred thousand.  And he said they are aware of the need to reach a solution so that the country can move forward.

Mr. Annan did not say when the talks might resume. The suspension brought a quick reaction from the United States and the European Commission, which reiterated¹¹ that those who blocked a solution to the crisis would face sanctions.

The head of the African Union, Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete, arrived in Nairobi Wednesday and met separately with Mr. Odinga and Mr. Kibaki.  He expressed confidence in the process.

The two sides have agreed in principle to the creation of the post of prime minister.  But they have not been able to agree on the powers accorded the post.  The opposition wants the prime minister to be head-of-government with control over the ministries¹² while the government wants the position to be subordinate to the presidency¹³.