Briefs, March 11, 2013
Kenya's press called for reconciliation between the winners and losers in the country's presidential election, as calm prevailed a day after the results were declared, in striking contrast to the aftermath of the 2007 polls.
NAIROBI - Kenya's press called for reconciliation between the winners and losers in the country's presidential election, as calm prevailed a day after the results were declared, in striking contrast to the aftermath of the 2007 polls. "The country is split right down the middle on tribal and economic lines," The Standard said in an editorial, calling on president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta to mend the divisions. The Sunday Nation said the conciliatory tone adopted by Kenyatta and deputy William Ruto was "certainly a good start towards confronting the deep ethnic divisions". Kenyatta, who faces trial on charges of crimes against humanity over the 2007-08 violence, scraped a first-round win over his main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga. AFP
LONDON - Oscar Pistorius is a broken man "on the verge of suicide" as he fights a charge of premeditated murder, a friend of the Paralympic star said. Pistorius stands accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in a case that has rocked the nation. The 26-year-old South African, who has won six gold medals at the Paralympics, claims he shot her through a bathroom door thinking she was an intruder. Close friend Mike Azzie said the star's state of mind has worsened since he was tasked with selling his racehorses to raise money to pay for his spiralling legal fees. AFP