Bid to defuse Kenya crisis steps up

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Both Britain and the US have called for all parties to work with a peace delegation from the African Union headed by Ghana President John Kufuor. Speaking in Downing Street, Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged to do everything in his power to help the reconciliation bid.

"I think it is very important that the international community supports the efforts of President Kufuor," Mr Brown said.

"He is trying very hard with other people to bring an end to the violence and we will give whatever support we can to President Kufuor's mediation which will take place (on Thursday)."

Hundreds of people have now died in the violence that broke out following the disputed re-election of Mwai Kibaki as president last week. Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga and of Mr Kibaki have accused each other of "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing".

Mr Brown said: "Millions of people queued up in Kenya to cast their vote. They deserve a government that brings about stability and prosperity. They deserve to have a government that respects the will of the people.

"Any election irregularities have got to be properly investigated and I think it is very important now that we do our bit and we do what we can to bring about reconciliation and unity in the country, and particularly at this moment when we have seen such appalling and horrific and completely unjustifiable violence."

Foreign Secretary David Miliband and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a joint statement on Wednesday morning, saying the UK and the US were ready to help resolve the crisis.

"The immediate priority is to combine a sustained call from Kenya's political leaders for the cessation of violence by their followers with an intensive political and legal process that can build a united and peaceful future for Kenya," the statement said.

British tourists in Kenya have been advised by the Foreign Office to stay indoors and the UK is warning against all but essential travel to areas of Mombasa and the capital, Nairobi.