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Kenya Factions Agree To Rewrite Constitution

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By MALKHADIR M. MUHUMED, The Associated Press

Published: February 15, 2008

NAIROBI, Kenya - Rival factions in Kenya's political crisis reportedly agreed Thursday to write a new constitution, a move that could allow for power-sharing as part of a deal aimed at ending weeks of violence in this East African country.

The announcement of an agreement came as President Bush said he was sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Kenya to demand an immediate halt to bloodshed that has killed more than 1,000 people since the disputed Dec. 27 presidential election.

Incumbent Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner, but opposition groups said the results were rigged. The election fight blew up into a broader conflict among Kenya's many ethnic groups, and international pressure has mounted for the two sides to find a way to work together.

A spokesman for former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, who has been mediating in closed talks between the government and opposition, announced that the parties signed off on a deal Thursday but offered no details. Annan scheduled a news conference for today, and the talks were recessed until Monday.

A few hours later, government negotiator Mutula Kilonzo said part of the deal was to revise Kenya's constitution within a year.

"The two parties agreed to write a new constitution," he said. "A new constitution is required."

Kilonzo did not divulge any other aspects of the agreement, which was thought likely to be just a preliminary step toward further negotiations.

An opposition member with close ties to the negotiations confirmed there was a deal on writing a new charter, but he said it was "trivial" because the government had not formally agreed to any changes in the government.

"The talks deadlocked over the discussion of government structure," said the politician, who agreed to discuss the deal only if not quoted by name since the two sides agreed to observe a media blackout during the negotiations.

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