Kenya crisis talks break with no deal

By Duncan Miriri and Daniel Wallis

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Negotiators for Kenya's political rivals broke off talks on the post-election crisis for the weekend on Friday despite growing local and international calls for a quick deal.

With negotiations now hinging on the details of a new prime minister's post to be offered to opposition leader Raila Odinga in a power-sharing agreement with President Mwai Kibaki, the two sides said they would resume on Monday.

"While we made some progress today ... the parties felt there were still some issues on which they needed to consult their principals," said disappointed mediator Kofi Annan.

The former U.N. boss urged Kibaki and Odinga to make decisions and communicate them to negotiators so that a settlement can be urgently reached when talks re-start.

"Many thought the white smoke would emerge from our discussions today," said Annan, who has become a celebrity in Kenya for his efforts to end the post-election crisis that has killed 1,000 people and made more than 300,000 homeless.

"We must give the Kenyan people what they are hoping and praying for. They have suffered greatly."

Adding to the diplomatic pressure, Africa's top diplomat Jean Ping spent Friday in Kenya to back the mediation.

The government agreed in principle this week to create the premier's post, but the sticking point is how much power that position will command. Local media, civil groups, business leaders and clerics have all been pleading for a settlement.