Kenya: Annan begins formal mediation talks

Nairobi: Former UN chief Kofi Annan on Tuesday opened formal mediation to try to end Kenya's post-election crisis.

Annan opened the meeting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi
flanked by President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila
Odinga in a bid to pull together both sides to strike a
political deal and stanch violence threatening to spiral out of
control.

Western nations have urged both sides - who appear far
apart - to take the talks seriously or risk losing aid.