Nairobi - Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan has backed calls for an international tribunal to try people accused of involvement in Kenya's post-election violence.

A commission led by Justice Philip Waki last week said that prominent politicians and businessmen helped organize ethnically based violence.

He gave an envelope containing the names of the accused to Annan, who said he would hand it over to the authorities at the appropriate time.

"I think it is important that the government acts on it," Annan told the BBC. "The victims demand justice too."

"The tendency sometimes to protect the perpetrators for the sake of peace - 'forget and let's move on' - doesn't help society," he added.

More than 1,100 people died in clashes between rival tribes affiliated to political parties during the post-election violence.

Hundreds of thousands were forced to flee their homes as a campaign of murder, revenge attacks, rapes and the razing of homes swept the country.

The clashes were prompted by Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga's accusation that President Mwai Kibaki's Party of National Unity had rigged the elections.

Calm returned after several months and a deal negotiated by Annan saw the creation of a power-sharing government, with Odinga sworn in as prime minister in April.

Waki said that a Special Tribunal for Kenya, with international participation, should be set up to try those accused of crimes relating to the post-election violence. (dpa)