By KUNA
United Nations : The Security Council welcomed the “Agreement on the Principles of Partnership of the Coalition Government” between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and his opponent Raila Odinga to resolve the crisis following the disputed elections last December.
In a statement to the press late on Friday, council president Ricardo Alberto Arias of Panama said the council expressed its “full” support for Kibaki and Odinga in forming a new Government, and called for the agreement to be implemented “in full and without delay.” The council urged Kenyan leaders to foster reconciliation, guarantee human rights and address the longer-term issues which the crisis has brought to the forefront.
It “strongly commends” the parties in reaching the agreement, as well as the efforts of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities, led by Kofi Annan, in assisting them. The council expressed its “strong” support for the efforts to address the widespread violence, including ethnically motivated attacks, in Kenya which resulted in heavy casualties and serious humanitarian consequences, in particular a large number of internally displaced persons and refugees. Recalling the need to avoid impunity, the council reiterated the need for those responsible for this violence to be brought to justice.