Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki says he is ready to form a government of national unity, an official statement said. The statement was issued after Mr Kibaki met the US' top diplomat on Africa, Jendayi Frazer, who previously met opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Kenya has been wracked by violence since presidential elections last month which the opposition says were rigged in Mr Kibaki's favour.
More than 350 people have been killed and 250,000 made homeless.
An official statement said Mr Kibaki was "ready to form a government of national unity that would not only unite Kenyans but would also help in the healing and reconciliation process."
It also said Ms Frazer had commended Mr Kibaki for reaching out to the opposition in order to stop the violence, and had called on all parties to embrace dialogue as a way out of the current situation.
But according to a BBC correspondent in Kenya, Mr Odinga said it was still his position that Mr Kibaki must step down as president and there should be a re-run of the 27 December election.
He said there would be no negotiations with Mr Kibaki.
It is understood that Ms Frazer was to have a second round of talks with Mr Odinga.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7172868.stm