By Daniel Wallis and Duncan Miriri
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's opposition threatened to resumestreet protests in a week if talks led by Kofi Annan fail toend a post-election crisis that has killed more than 1,000people and tarnished the country's reputation for stability.
Kenyans and world powers alike have called on PresidentMwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to agree a dealto halt turmoil that has also displaced 300,000.
Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is demandingconstitutional changes creating a powerful post of primeminister for their man -- something Kibaki's Party of NationalUnity (PNU) has looked unlikely to concede.
As anxiety over the delays grew, the opposition accused thegovernment of not being a "serious partner" in the talks, andof using stalling tactics to cement its hold on power.
"The ODM proposes that parliament be summoned within thenext one week to enact the necessary changes in theconstitution to implement these mediation proposals," said ODMsecretary-general Anyang' Nyong'o. "If that does not happen ODMwill resume peaceful mass action."
Previous opposition protests after the vote brought mayhemand deaths to Kenyan cities as demonstrators battled police.The chaos has caused massive damage to the region's largesteconomy.
The opposition accuses Kibaki's team of stealing victory atthe December 27 polls. Kibaki's side says it won fairly andaccuses ODM of instigating tribal violence following the finalresults.
The government team is resisting calls by U.S. Secretary ofState Condoleezza Rice, chief mediator Annan and other westernnations to allow a power-sharing deal or "grand coalition".
CONSTITUTION DEBATE
On Tuesday, Kibaki said he was "willing to work togetherand share responsibilities in government" with ODM, but thatany deal "must be in tandem with the current Kenyanconstitution".
The government's insistence on sticking to the constitution-- a colonial-era treaty which all sides agree is long overduefor reform -- could block any special new arrangement toaccommodate ODM like a premier's post for Odinga, analysts say.
Nyong'o accused PNU hardliners of zealously defending thecountry's "imperial presidency" at the expense of Kenyans.
Many Kenyans fear a return to bloodshed if a final deal isnot struck soon, and local media say gangs in some conflict-hitareas have been re-arming with crude weapons.
The United Nations has also warned of looming foodshortages as the unrest affected crop planting, particularlythe Rift Valley where about half of Kenya's cereals are grown.
A deadline set by former U.N. boss Annan for a politicaldeal by mid-February has passed, despite a trip last week to asecluded safari lodge to focus minds. But the Ghanaian hasvowed he will stay until the talks reach an "irreversible"point.
The delays at the negotiations have irked many Kenyans.
"The hardening of positions by both sides -- obviously dueto the high stakes in the event the deal is sealed -- promisesa longer and more torturous path to a compromise," localcolumnist Jackson Mwalulu wrote in the Daily Nation.
"The PNU and ODM negotiating teams have so far succeeded inmaking a complicated job nearly impossible. From outsidelooking in, it is more about egos and sibling rivalries. Eachside is too careful not to be seen to have been the first oneto blink."
(For special coverage from Reuters on Kenya's crisis see:http ://africa.reuters.com/elections/kenya/)
(Writing by Daniel Wallis, Editing by Andrew Cawthorne andRalph Boulton)
