Kenya warned by U.S. over Cabinet row

(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged Kenya's government and opposition party to agree on the composition of their coalition Cabinet after the two sides suspended talks on power-sharing.

Rice warned that the United States would "act accordingly" if they failed to reach an agreement.

The opposition Orange Democratic Movement said Tuesday it was suspending talks with President Mwai Kibaki's Party of National Unity because they failed to agree on a balanced Cabinet.

Rice said she had spoken separately by telephone with Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga -- who would become prime minister in the new government -- and urged them to "implement real power-sharing by agreeing on the composition of their coalition cabinet."

"It is imperative that they form the Cabinet without further delay and address the vitally important work of the nation," Rice said in a statement dated Tuesday.

"The United States and the entire international community stand ready to assist the coalition government and to help ensure that the provisions of the February 28 political accord are fully respected.

"Should the accord not be implemented, however, the United States will form its own judgments regarding responsibility for lack of implementation of the accord, and act accordingly."

Kibaki and Odinga signed a power-sharing agreement on February 28 to end two months of chaos and violence which followed the disputed presidential election. Incumbent Kibaki narrowly won amid allegations the vote was rigged.

The United Nations estimates that about 1,000 people were killed and another 300,000 were driven from their homes during the violence.

The agreement called for Cabinet positions to be distributed equally, but the two sides have disagreed over the division of ministries.

Kenya's government contends Odinga is making unrealistic demands for key ministries like foreign affairs, local government, and energy.

ODM supporters of the opposition party clashed with police Tuesday after the suspension of talks.

Police used tear gas on a crowd of Odinga's supporters in Nairobi's large Kibera slum, according to a CNN cameraman. E-mail to a friend

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