Kenyan president moves to avert standoff over electoral body

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has said a special committee of both Parliament and the Senate will be formed to seek to reform the country's electoral body in a move to defuse political tension.

The opposition has been holding weekly demonstrations since early April to demand the dissolution of the electoral body supervising next year's general elections, which it says is biased in favor of the government of President Kenyatta.

Violence during the protests has left five opposition supporters dead in the opposition-dominated western region and several injuries.

Kenyatta announced the creation of the joint committee on Wednesday after meeting with religious leaders and Speakers of both Houses.

"Stakeholders from both (public and private) sides will form a joint select parliamentary committee and allow public participation," said the president.

He said dialogue was welcome, but added it must be within the framework of the constitution.

The leader of the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has been pushing for dialogue to reform the electoral body.

The weekly demonstrations have been taking place in the capital Nairobi and major cities in western Kenya.

Police have been using teargas and high-powered water cannon at protesters and there has been criticism of police brutality. Endit