Kenya crisis to dominate African Union summit talks

Addis Ababa: The Kenyan crisis is expected to dominate talks at an African Union summit starting in Addis Ababa on Thursday.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki will join 40 other heads of state gathering in the Ethiopian capital for the three-day talks.

Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, who claims he won last month's election, did not receive an invite.

The AU chairman, Alpha Konare, said it was up to Africa to help Kenya resolve a dispute resulted in brutal violence, referring to the inter-tribal conflict which has paralysed the country, killing more than 800 and forcing thousands to flee their homes.

Today it is the responsibility of the African Union to solve this problem," he said.

Mr Konare criticised the 53-member African Union in for it's failed efforts in addressing issues in Africa.

The billed theme of this year's summit is industrialization, yet Kenya is likely be high on the agenda.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to tell the organisation of the need for a peaceful compromise in a country whose stability is seen as key for the region.

"The Kenyan crisis is a serious one and we cannot simply condone what the Kibaki regime is trying to feed us," added a memeber of the AU commission.