NAIROBI, Kenya – Kofi Anan, the moderator of the peace talks in Kenya, is intervening due to a failure of the two sides to reach agreement. Anan is going to talk to Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and rival Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM,) in an effort to get the talks back on track. The dispute is over the powers to be ceded to the newly agreed upon post of prime minister which is to be occupied by Odinga if it is created as talks have suggested it will be.

The ODM has said it will resume mass protests this Thursday if agreement is not reached.

Some government leaders believe the final plan should be put to the people for a referendum.

It is now estimated that 1,500 people have been killed since the late December 2007 election.

BBC News – Kenya peace talks reach impasse – 25 February 2008

Reuters – Annan meets rivals to break Kenya talks stalemate – 25 January 2008

Impunity Watch – UPDATE: AU Chairman Pushes for Agreement in Kenya – 22 February 2008