Germany backs call for Kenya recount (Roundup)

Jan 3, 2008, 16:41 GMT

Berlin - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier backed Thursday a call for an independent recount of the votes in Kenya's presidential election to bring an end to bloodshed.

He spoke a day after telephoning defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga and Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju in Nairobi.

A statement released by the Foreign Ministry in Berlin said he appealed to the government and opposition to avoid violence at a mass rally. Odinga later postponed that Nairobi rally.

'The postponement by Odinga's party provides a breathing space for both the government and the opposition to consult on a peaceful solution to the current crisis,' Steinmeier said, appealing for calm and asking both sides to urge their supporters to be non-violent.

Kenyan Attorney General Amos Wako called Thursday on Kenyan television for an independent investigation into the vote count that led to President Mwai Kibaki's disputed re-election. He said 'a proper tally ... should be undertaken immediately.'

Steinmeier said 'I support the call by the attorney-general and the European Union election observers for a recount.

'This could be the basis for reconciliation between the parties and ethnic groups and for a return by Kenya to the path of democracy.'

The German minister had also phoned UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon about the crisis, aides in Berlin said.

Steinmeier said Germany was concerned at post-election unrest that has seen at least 300 people killed and marked a disturbing change in the usually peaceful country.

The German foreign minister said his country supported mediation efforts being undertaken by the African Union, according to the first of the two statements he issued.

Odinga has charged that the December 27 poll, which he lost by 230,000 votes to incumbent Mwai Kibaki, was flawed. Kibaki's Party of National Unity has insisted Kibaki was the rightful winner.