Joint call for end to violence in Kenya

Britain and America have issued a joint statement calling on Kenya's political leaders to "engage in a spirit of compromise" and end the escalating violence in the country.

The statement from foreign secretary David Miliband and US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday pointed to reports of "serious irregularities" in the disputed election results.

Hundreds of people have been killed in the violence, sparked by accusations that the election - which saw Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki re-elected as president - had been rigged.

And the statement said: "The immediate priority is to combine a sustained call from Kenya's political leaders for the cessation of violence by their followers with an intensive political and legal process that can build a united and peaceful future for Kenya."

Miliband and Rice welcomed the call by the African Union for the parties to end the violence, adding: "We call on all political leaders to engage in a spirit of compromise that puts the democratic interests of Kenya first."

"We applaud the commitment of the EU and Commonwealth as well as the AU to stay engaged at this important moment for democracy in Africa," the statement added.

"And we pledge the diplomatic and political efforts of our two countries to support reconciliation and national unity at this vital time for Kenya and the region."

African Union

The prime minister also welcomed the decision by the leader of the African Union to travel to Kenya.

Gordon Brown said on Wednesday that: "The whole international community has been coming together to try to bring an end to violence in Kenya and I believe that there is a responsibility on the part of all opposition and government leaders in Kenya to call on their supporters to end the violence that's taking place.

"I have just talked to President Kufuor of Ghana, the chair of the African Union, well respected right across Africa and someone who has promoted human rights in his country and across Africa. I welcome his decision that he will announce later today that he will go to Kenya.

"He will meet President Kibaki and Mr Odinga tomorrow, he will call on them to urge their supporters to end violence and he will work with the parties to ensure reconciliation is brought about and perhaps a chance that some of the people who are at the moment opponents may join a government of national unity.

"I think it is very important that the international community supports the efforts of President Kufuor.

"He is trying very hard with other people to bring an end to the violence and we will give whatever support we can to President Kufuor's mediation which will take place tomorrow."

'Zimbabwe'

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg warned that urgent action was needed to prevent Kenya going the way of Zimbabwe.

He called for the Commonwealth and EU to impose sanctions if a full recount did not take place within two weeks.

"We need to be quite clear about what the consequences are if political stability and a transparent and credible democratic process are not restored," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"I think we should specify that within a very short period of time - let's say two weeks - there needs to be a full recount under international supervision.

"If that doesn't take place, the consequences are quite specific too. I think the position of Kenya in the Commonwealth should be put into question.

"The EU - which is the largest trading bloc for Kenya by a long way - should be prepared to use economic sanctions, particularly sanctions against members of the ruling party."

However, Miliband said that 80 per cent of the £170m given to Kenya went to ordinary people and not the government.

"In the end, the people who benefit from trade with the UK and EU are the workers of Kenya," he told the same programme.

"What I would say about any discussion of sanctions in the future is that there are two key issues - first, who does it help and who does it hurt, and, secondly, does it have the desired effect?"