Breakthrough in Kenyan talks denied

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The Kenyan government's claim of a breakthrough in talks over disputed election results was denied by the opposition party in Nairobi Thursday.

Ugandan presidential press secretary Tamale Mirundi said both sides agreed to set up a judicial commission, but a spokesman for the opposition Orange Democratic Movement, Salim Lone, denied it, the BBC reported.

Wednesday, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni held talks with President Mwai Kibaki as former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan waited to meet with Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga separately.

Efforts to get the president and Odinga into a single meeting have failed so far, the report said.

The ODM claims there was widespread vote-rigging in the Dec. 27 election that kept Kibaki in power. The party has also refused to accept a recount, as it claims it would only recount counterfeit ballots.

Rioting along tribal lines since the results were announced have killed at least 650 people, rights groups and observers reported.