Kenyan rivals agree to humanitarian aid as talks continue

Talks end weeks of postelection violence in Kenya resumed yesterday on thorny political issues, a day after rivals agreed on humanitarian aid.

The fighting has killed more than 1,000 people and left 300,000 homeless since the Dec. 27 presidential election, which foreign and local observers say was rigged.

Protests deteriorated into ethnic clashes, with much of the anger aimed at Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe, long resented for dominating politics and the economy.

Former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, who last month brought together Kibaki and his chief rival, Raila Odinga, warned that yesterday's agenda would be tough.

"The crisis arising out of the December 2007 elections, that is going to take hard negotiations, understandably give and take," he said.

The two sides agreed on Friday to take immediate action to end the violence, and said they would complete talks within 15 days on measures to resolve the political crisis. Annan said it would take up to a year to solve the deeper problems.

On Monday, the two sides signed a two-page agreement on immediate measures, including helping people return to their homes safely and providing food and shelter for the displaced.

They also welcomed a UN human rights team to investigate the violence, and agreed on Annan's plan for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission with local and international jurists.

Streets calm yesterday in western Kenya, scene of some of the worst bloodshed, after more than a week of clashes.

At least seven people were killed in battles between Kisii and Kalenjin communities in a region 250km west of the capital, Nairobi.

Hundreds youths -- armed with bows and arrows and machetes -- have fought there for nine days, forcing approxi-mately 2,000 people to flee their homes.

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu urged Kenyans not to arm themselves.

"If you are asked to take up arms, reject that call," Tutu said on Monday in an interview with the BBC.

"By putting down your arms you will demonstrate the character that God gave to each of you, and to which I now appeal. It is in your power to stop the violence -- if you act as one," he said.

The Kenya Red Cross on Monday put the official toll at 1,000 killed, thousands injured and 304,000 homeless.