As former UN chief Kofi Annan struggles to reach a deal between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chief Raila Odinga, the Brussels- based International Crisis Group (ICG) said fresh violence was fomenting.

‘’Serious obstacles remain however. Armed groups are still mobilising on both camps,’’ the panel said in a new report titled: Kenya in crisis.

‘’Extremists and militia are preparing for new confrontation on both camps and ODM believes that if international mediation fails, its only protection against repression and hope for a settlement will be its capacity to raise the stakes through violence,’’ the report added.