Kenya opposition seeks new vote after violence

International observers say ballot counting after the Dec. 27 vote that returned Kibaki to power was flawed.

Anyang Nyongo, secretary-general of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement, said the country should ready “for a new election of the president.” With the call, the opposition appeared to leave little room for compromise with Kibaki, leaving the political deadlock to grind on.

“This is about a democracy and justice,” Nyongo said. “We shall continue to defend and promote the right of Kenyans so that the democratic process should be fulfilled.”

South African Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu held talks with Kibaki on Friday and with Odinga on Thursday, and said both men "indicated they are open to the possibilities of negotiations."

"There is a great deal of hope," Tutu said.

U.S. sends top diplomat
The leading U.S. diplomat for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, was traveling to Kenya for meetings Saturday, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"She's meeting with Mr. Odinga and we have requested a meeting with President Kibaki. I see no reason why that won't happen," McCormack told reporters. Frazer would not serve as a mediator, but would try to encourage the leaders to talk, McCormack said.

He declined to comment specifically on the opposition call for a new election but said such homegrown ideas would be key to resolving the crisis.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Friday that the Kenyan elections "were totally rigged."

Kouchner, speaking on France's RTL radio, did not say what evidence he had for that conclusion, but said it was shared by "the Americans, the British, who know the country well."

In Britain, the former colonial power in Kenya, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a statement Friday that given the "serious questions about the conduct of the count," Kenya's leaders should consider sharing power.

"The basis for the country to move forward is political compromise which recognizes the divided nature of the electoral vote and establishes a basis for politicians of different parties to work together in a way that reflects the will of the Kenyan people," Miliband said. "The sharing of political power is the way to build bridges across serious divides."

Suspension of aid threatened
Germany's development minister suggested that EU aid to Kenya could be frozen if Kenyan officials spurn international offers of mediation.

Attorney General Amos Wako called Thursday for an independent investigation of the vote counting. The call from Wako, who is considered close to Kibaki, was a surprise and could reflect the seriousness of the rigging allegations.

But a spokesman for Odinga, Salim Lone, rejected the suggestion, saying his party had "no faith in any government institution."

Businesses have lost millions of dollars and the country's vitally important tourism industry suffered as British tour operators canceled planned vacations.

The World Bank issued a statement saying the unrest “threatens impressive recent gains in economic growth and poverty reduction” in a country with a billion-dollar tourism industry and a gross domestic product growth rate of 7 percent.

Violence has displaced thousands of people, many of forced out of burned homes.

"I lost my job working as house help after my Asian employers fled abroad following the riots," said Sarah Wanyama, 26. "My husband lost his job yesterday after his place of work was vandalized."

She said she had moved their two children to a "safer place" but none had eaten all day and they had no money.

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