PM calls for urgent talks in Kenya

Mr Brown's call came as opposition leader Raila Odinga said he was ready to take part in mediated talks with President Mwai Kibaki, whom he accuses of rigging last month's poll.

Mr Odinga said he expected Ghanaian president John Kufuor, the current head of the African Union, to arrive in Nairobi within the next two days to act as a mediator for talks between the rival camps. And he even suggested that he was ready for Mr Kibaki to retain his role as president under his old mandate from elections in 2002 while talks take place, and was prepared to co-operate with him in a future government.

More than 300 people have died and tens of thousands have fled their homes in a wave of violence since Mr Kibaki was declared the winner of the December 27 presidential election.

Mr Brown denounced the violence as "completely unacceptable" and said he believed Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga were ready to take the steps needed to bring it to a halt. The Prime Minister told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I think there is a chance of reconciliation. I have spoken with President Kufuor of Ghana, who is going to come to Kenya in the next day or two to be a mediator.

"There is a great deal of work being done behind the scenes. I think Mr Odinga and Mr Kibaki both recognise that unless they make a change, unless something happens that brings them together, the prospects for Kenya are very poor indeed... I think they both recognise that something has to give and they should now come together."

Mr Brown said he expected talks under international mediation to cover the issue not only of whether the December poll should be re-run, but whether Kenya's constitution should be re-written to create a post of prime minister as a counterweight to the president.

"These talks should take place urgently," he said. "Loss of life is completely unacceptable. This is a country that needs a democratic path and a path of economic and social justice."

Mr Odinga told the programme: "We are ready for dialogue in order to find a lasting solution to the conflict. The crisis is very grave and because of this we are willing to walk the extra mile to find a solution. We are willing to sit down with Mr Kibaki in the presence of an internationally recognised mediator so we can put our terms on the table.

"In order to resolve the crisis, we are willing to talk. I am willing even to co-operate with Mr Kibaki in the government."