British Foreign Secretary David Miliband Wednesday resisted calls to impose sanctions on Kenya amid the escalating post-election violence in that country, the BBC reported.
"What I would say about any discussion of sanctions in the future is that there are two key issues -- first, who does it (discussion of sanctions) help and who does it hurt, and, secondly, does it have the desired effect," Miliband told the BBC in an interview.
He is sceptical about the effectiveness of sanctions. But he urged political leaders in the east African country to find common ground as international pressure mounted for order to be restored in that country.
"It is clear that there are major responsibilities on Kenya's political leaders both in respect of the violence being perpetrated by some of their followers and in respect of the need to reach out and find common ground for a country -- whoever actually won the election, which is obviously very deeply divided," he said.
Violence has flared in Kenya after Mwai Kibaki was re-elected as president in the latest election which opposition leader Raila Odinga claimed as being rigged. At least 250 people have been killed during four days of violence.
British nationals in Kenya have been advised to stay indoors or to exercise extreme caution if they do go outside.
Source:Xinhua
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