Annan to leave Kenya after coalition deal

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Mediator Kofi Annan said on Saturday hewas giving up day-to-day responsibility for reconciliationtalks in Kenya after securing a deal to end its worst crisissince independence.

President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odingasigned a coalition government pact on Thursday intended tobring to a close two months of violence and political upheavalfollowing a disputed presidential election on December 27.

Although the deal ends the immediate political crisis,politicians from both sides have begun more detailednegotiations on how the deal will be implemented.

"There's hard, long work ahead," Annan said after meetingreligious leaders in central Nairobi.

"It will require the cooperation of all Kenyans. It isimportant that the public at large understands that they have arole to play."

The violence has killed 1,000 Kenyans and forced 300,000 toflee their homes. Annan said ordinary people could make adifference to the political process.

"Maintain the pressure, maintain your interest and you willbe surprised how politicians miraculously find the courage todo the right thing," he said.

Annan, who leaves Nairobi on Sunday, said he was convincedthe talks would go smoothly and he was handing over day-to-daymediation to former Nigerian foreign minister Oluyemi Adeniji.

"But I will never be far away and can return on shortnotice if I am needed," Annan said in a statement. "I will belooking in on the talks from time to time."

(Writing by Giles Elgood; editing by Robert Woodward)

(For in depth coverage on Reuters Africa Web site:http://africa.reuters.com/elections/kenya/ )