Kenyan state parliament opening to be held on Thursday

Nairobi: Kenya is due to hold the state opening of parliament on Thursday, as President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga prepare to share power.

The event signals the potential end to more than two months of violence in the country, following hotly disputed election results in December 2007 which saw Kibaki re-elected as president.

More than 1,500 people were killed in post-election violence before the deal which was brokered by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The terms of the agreement will see Mr Odinga appointed as prime minister - a post which does not currently exist in Kenya.

A truth and reconciliation commission will also be set up.