UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 13 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called on Kenyan opposition leaders to address their disputes over the presidential election through legal means instead of violence.
"He (Guterres) calls on those political leaders disputing the election results to address election-related disputes through the relevant constitutionally mandated institutions," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, in a statement.
The secretary-general took note of the provisional results of Tuesday's presidential election in Kenya and of the electoral authorities' announcement of incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta as president-elect, said the statement.
Guterres called on the political leaders to send clear messages to their supporters, urging them to refrain from violence. The secretary-general also stressed the importance of dialogue to defuse tensions.
The United Nations, together with the African Union and other partners, is fully engaged with Kenya's political leadership and relevant stakeholders to facilitate the successful conclusion of the electoral process, it added.
Two dozen people have been killed in post-election violence amid opposition claims that the vote was rigged in Kenyatta's favor. (Xinhua)
