NAIROBI, March 2: Kofi Annan flew out of Kenya on Sunday after brokering a power-sharing deal between feuding leaders, but insisted Kenyans must still respect the rule of law while a final political solution is sought.

Annan spent more than five weeks in Kenya mediating between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition chief Raila Odinga that signalled an end to two months of clashes.

“It is now time to say goodbye ... I am glad we have come this far, but we do have a long road ahead and I would want all of you to remain engaged. We want Kenya to return to the old Kenya: stable, peaceful, prosperous and welcoming,” he told a press conference.

“The people from the region and the world recognise (that) we need to build a secure Kenya, a peaceful Kenya that abides by the rules of law and respects human rights,” Annan said.

The east African nation was plunged into chaos after disputed Dec 27 presidential polls. Odinga said Kibaki had rigged the vote and more than 1,500 people died in post-election violence and hundreds of thousands were displaced. After weeks of tough negotiations, Kenyan leaders on Thursday signed a power-sharing deal creating the post of prime minister and two deputy prime ministers.—AFP