Britain's PM presses Kenyan leaders to urgently hold talks

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Sunday appealed for Kenya's political leaders to urgently hold talks to end a political deadlock that sparked a week of deadly riots.

Brown spoke after opposition leader Raila Odinga said he was ready to join mediated talks with President Mwai Kibaki, who he accuses of rigging the Dec. 27 election to stay in power.

"I think Mr. Odinga and Mr. Kibaki both recognize that unless they make a change, unless something happens that brings them together, the prospects for Kenya are very poor indeed," Brown told British Broadcasting Corp. television.

"We have been working night and day behind the scenes to see what we can do to bring the sides together," Brown said.

The prime minister said he had spoken to Ghanian President John Kufuor, chairman of the African Union, who he said is expected to arrive in Nairobi by Tuesday to mediate.

"I think there is a chance of reconciliation," Brown said.

Britain, the former colonial power in Kenya, appealed last week for both sides to consider sharing power, but the opposition has rejected an offer from the president to form a unity government.