(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-05 17:19

NAIROBI - Kenya's rival parties have agreed to set up a truth and reconciliation commission to help end the deadly crisis which erupted after President Mwai Kibaki's re-election in December.

The talks, mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan, agreed that the proposed commission would include local and international jurists.

Annan also said UN investigators should look into alleged human rights abuses in Kenya.

Addressing a news conference on Monday night, Annan said the two parties also agreed to encourage and help displaced people to settle back in their homes or other areas and have safe passage and security throughout.

The two parties agreed to provide adequate security and protection, particularly for vulnerable groups, including women and children in the camps.

They also recommended the provision of basic services for people in displaced camps and ensure that there is adequate food, water, sanitation and shelter within the affected communities - both those in displaced camps and those remaining in their communities.

Annan said that the Party of National Unity (PNU) and opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) representatives unanimously agreed on the immediate measures to promote peace, reconciliation, healing and restoration.

Both the PNU and ODM also agreed to provide medical assistance with specific focus on women, children, people living with HIV and AIDS and the disabled, currently in camps for displaced.

"Ensure all children have access to education. This will involve reconstruction of schools; encouraging return of teaching staff and provision of learning materials, and helping children to return to the institutions," Annan said.

They agreed to provide information centers where the affected can get information regarding the assistance that is available to them and how to access it, for example, support for reconstruction of their livelihood, or tracing of family members.

According to Annan, the two sides also agreed to operationalize the Humanitarian Fund for Mitigation of Effects and Resettlement of Victims of Post 2007 Election Violence expeditiously by establishing a bipartisan, multi-sectoral board with streamline procedures to disburse funds rapidly.

They agreed to ensure that victims of violence in urban areas are not neglected and to ensure that all-inclusive Reconciliation and Peace Building Committees are established at the grassroots level.

The former UN chief expressed hope that Tuesday's meeting would end with a consensus as it did on Monday.

"(On Tuesday) we begin our work on the political issues, the crisis arising out of the December 2007 elections. That is going to take hard negotiations, understandably give and take," Annan said.