Obama and Kenya

I meant to blog this ages ago, but forgot. Presidential candidate Barack Obama has been actively working for a solution to the turmoil in Kenya:

"White House Democratic hopeful Barack Obama has called Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga to urge peace talks without preconditions in the wake of election violence that has killed hundreds, his spokesperson said on Tuesday.

"'Barack Obama spoke with Raila Odinga on Monday,' spokesperson Bill Burton told AFP. 'He urged an end to violence and that Mr. Odinga sit down, without preconditions, with President (Mwai) Kibaki to resolve this issue peacefully.'

"Obama is 'trying now to speak with President Kibaki,' Burton added...

"The 46-year-old Illinois senator has spoken by phone with Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannenberger and Archbisop Desmond Tutu in between campaign stops, and also recorded a statement that aired on Voice of America radio, Burton said."