LONDON (Reuters) - Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga credited Gordon Brown on Wednesday with helping to start the process that resolved the east African country's bloody crisis after its presidential election last December.
The disputed election led to two months of violence inwhich about 1,500 people were killed and more than 300,000 madehomeless.
Peace was restored with the formation of a coalitiongovernment between President Mwai Kibaki and Odinga's formeropposition party.
"Unknown to many people, it was Prime Minister Gordon Brownwho started up the process of negotiations through phone calls,one to me, the other to President Kibaki, during which he askedus to agree that he could play a role behind the scenes tobroker negotiations," Odinga said, after talks with Brown athis Downing Street office in London.
"That phone call is what started it all off, ending up withthe establishment of a panel of eminent persons led by theformer U.N. Secretary-General Dr. Kofi Annan.
"That panel presided over the negotiations that ended upwith the signing of the peace accord in our country, and theformation of a grand coalition government," he added.
Odinga, who will later attend a meeting designed tostimulate investment in Kenya, said his country needed tradeand investment and was open for business.
"Kenya is not coming with a begging basket," he argued.
Brown said Kenya still faced challenges, such as tacklingcorruption, but added: "I am convinced by my talks today thatKenya's leaders have the will and determination to take all thesteps necessary and I applaud their commitment."
(Editing by Mariam Karouny)
