Nairobi - Kenyans went to the polls in five by-elections Wednesday in what is seen as the first major test for the grand coalition formed in April to end months of deadly post-election violence.

Two of the by-elections were aimed at replacing lawmakers who were shot dead, while another two were to fill seats left vacant after the violence prevented the results from being announced.

The final seat was vacated when Kenneth Marende gave up his seat to become parliamentary speaker.

Some fear that tribal conflicts could resurface during the by- elections. Polls opened early amid a heavy police presence, but no tension was reported by mid-morning.

Nairobi/Djibouti  - The Somali government and opposition figures have signed an eleventh-hour peace deal aimed at ending 17 years of conflict, but Islamic insurgents at the heart of a recent escalation in violence are not included in the agreement.

The United Nations envoy to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, who called off the talks in neighbouring Djibouti on Sunday after the opposing factions refused to meet, told the BBC that a deal had been agreed late on Monday night.

"It took eight days to attend workshops, to live in the same hotel, but avoiding each other. Finally they met ... confidence resumed slowly, and we have to support and nurture that renewed confidence," he said.

Nairobi/Djibouti  - United Nations-brokered peace talks aimed at ending an in

Nairobi  - Shares in Kenyan mobile telecommunications firm Safaricom rose by 50 per cent on their first day of trading Monday months after Kenya's biggest public offering.

Nairobi  - The Sudanese government and former rebels from the south have agreed to use international arbiters to resolve a dispute over the oil-rich town of Abyei, which observers fear could reigni

Nairobi/Geneva  - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Wednesday it would dramatically scale up relief operations in Somalia as an escalating insurgency, drought and rising food