As Kenya talks stall, Annan threatens to pull out, source says

Feb 25, 2008, 18:29 GMT

Nairobi - Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan seemed to become exasperated with the mediation talks he is leading to end the crisis in Kenya, threatening Monday to leave if stalling continues, a source said.

Kenya's rival political sides have been sluggishly negotiating a political settlement to the conflict over disputed elections in December that left more than 1,000 dead, but have been unable to agree on details of a power-sharing deal.

'If the foot dragging continues, it is unlikely he will be able to hang around,' a source close to the talks told Deutsche Presse- Agentur dpa. 'He feels he is a prisoner of peace. The parties won't cut a deal but they won't cut him loose.'

The source said Annan, who until now boasted of his optimism, believed the negotiating teams lacked political goodwill to see a solution through.

Kenyans have high hopes in the success of the talks that are also meant to address long standing issues over land and the constitution that have divided the country since independence from Britain in 1963.

Annan met with President Mwai Kibaki, who is charged with rigging the polls, and opposition leader Raila Odinga after cutting short the talks Monday he said were making no progress.

He has set numerous deadlines for the sides to come up with a final political deal which have all expired with no concrete decision.

While the teams have agreed on the post of a prime minister, they differ on how much power the position should have as well as the division of ministries between both parties in a coalition government.

Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement has vowed to call its supporters to the streets if its demands are not met by Wednesday, a threat most Kenyans are weary of after demonstrations in January turned violent and virtually shut down the capital Nairobi.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in the election aftermath and more than 300,000 displaced in events that have marked a disturbing change from the ordinarily stable country seen as a budding democracy in a troubled region.