Kenya Power-Sharing Deal Is Signed To End Election Turmoil

Kenya's rival political leaders signed a power-sharing deal yesterday, offering hope of an end to weeks of post-election violence that have left more than 1,000 people dead.

President Kibaki and the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, agreed to a deal that splits control of the government between them, creating a possible role for the latter as prime minister.

The accord came after a month of talks mediated by Kofi Annan, the former U.N. secretary-general, to end the country's worst crisis since independence in 1963.

A beaming Mr. Odinga said after the signing: "We have opened a new chapter in our history, from the era of confrontation to the beginning of cooperation."

"As a nation there are more issues that unite than divide us," Mr. Kibaki said.

"Let the spirit of healing begin today, let it begin now," Mr. Annan said.

Under the deal, a powerful new prime minister's post is to be created — for Mr. Odinga, as head of the largest parliamentary party — to oversee government business. Cabinet posts will be split evenly between Mr. Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement and the governing coalition led by Mr. Kibaki's Party of National Unity. Mr. Kibaki ordered Parliament to convene next Thursday to pass a constitutional amendment to push through the changes.

In pro-opposition areas from the coastal capital of Mombasa to Mr. Odinga's western hometown of Kisumu, people took to the streets to celebrate.