President Kufuor extends mission

AU Chairman, President Kufuor has extended his mediation mission in Kenya for a day. President Kufuor Wednesday held separate talks with President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga in an effort to find a solution to the post election violence there. President Kufuor went to Kenya on Tuesday but despite meeting the leaders of both sides he has not managed to get them to agree to direct talks. About 600 people are said to have died in unrest which followed the disputed poll. In addition, some 250,000 are displaced by the violence following the December 2007 elections, which the opposition claims was rigged by President Kibaki. After meeting President Kufuor, Mr. Kibaki's office issued a statement, saying he had assured Mr. Kufuor he was initiating dialogue. The Opposition leader Raila Odinga Wednesday refused talks proposed by Mr. Kibaki, calling the offer a public relations gimmick that seeks to divert attention from international efforts to find a solution to the problem. Mr. Odinga has repeatedly said he would not join a government of National Unity. He however says the talks with President Kufuor are fruitful.