The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Nairobi

African Union chief and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete pushed ahead Thursday with talks to end the Kenyan political crisis.

Kikwete chaired talks between President Mwai Kibaki, opposition chief Raila Odinga and former UN secretary general and chief mediator Kofi Annan in a fresh bid to resolve the two month crisis.

Odinga accuses Kibaki of rigging the December 27 presidential election whose contested outcome sparked violence across the country that claimed more than 1,500 lives.

Hundreds of thousands of people have also been uprooted, mainly in the capital's slums and Kenya's fertile western region, which are regarded as the country's breadbasket.

Kenya's opposition had planned protests for Thursday aimed at pushing the government into a power-sharing agreement, but Odinga called them off at Annan's request.

Annan on Tuesday suspended negotiations between government and opposition representatives, citing lack of progress on the details of a prime minister's post as part of political settlement.

Kibaki has said the post of prime minister and two deputies will be created under the current constitution pending a comprehensive constitutional review in 12 months.