The number of people killed in Kenya's post-election violence has climbed past 1,000, the Red Cross said Tuesday as the country's political rivals continue talks aimed at easing the crisis.

A displaced girl rests in a Catholic monastery in Kipkelion, western Kenya, where her family has taken sanctuary.
(Riccardo Gangale/Associated Press)

Recent ethnic fighting in western Kenya, where some of the worst bloodshed has occurred, saw the number of deaths rise, the international humanitarian agency said.

"One thousand plus have died since the conflict started," Red Cross head Abbas Gullet told a conference in Nairobi, according to Reuters.

At least seven people were killed in overnight battles between the Kisii and Kalenjin communities, located in a region 250 kilometres west of the capital of Nairobi, said Humphrey Nakitare, district commissioner of Sotik town.

Some 304,000 Kenyans have also been displaced by the crisis, although that figure is expected to rise, the Red Cross said.

The country's disputed presidential election on Dec. 27 has led to ethnic violence, clashes between protesters and police as well as looting.

Chief negotiator withdraws

President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga continued talks Tuesday after agreeing a day earlier on principles to stem the violence and help those displaced.

Led by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, the negotiators have also agreed to allow a UN human rights team to investigate the violence and to establish a truth and reconciliation commission.

However, chief mediator Cyril Ramaphosa, selected by Annan, withdrew Monday from the process because of objections by Kibaki's government and ruling party.

The government did not state why it objected to Ramaphosa. In Ramaphosa's statement, he denied having any business dealings with Odinga.

The South African businessman, who played a lead role in talks in his own country to end apartheid, said he couldn't function "without the complete confidence" of both parties.

"I thought I should withdraw and go back to South Africa, so I don't become a stumbling block myself," he told reporters.

Ban on live coverage ends

Meanwhile, the government decided to lift a month-long ban on live TV broadcasts, saying violence had eased enough.

"The live coverage ban was lifted because the security is better," government spokesman Alfred Mutua told the Associated Press.

In late December, he said the ban was implemented to prevent the incitement of violence. Rights groups said it was an attack on free speech.

Annan has said it could take up to a year to solve deeper problems in Kenya, but on Friday the two sides said they would complete talks within 15 days on measures to resolve the political crisis.

Kibaki accuses opponents of orchestrating the violence and has said his position as president is non-negotiable, while Odinga insists Kibaki step down.

Foreign and local observers have said the re-election of Kibaki was rigged, though some say the count was too chaotic to determine who won.

With files from the Associated Press