Kenyan president, opposition leader meet for 1st time since contested vote

NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) - Two bitter political rivals - Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga - met Thursday for the first time since last month's contested election, under the auspices of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"Today, we have taken the first vital steps in resolving the electoral dispute and conflict that has ravaged this country for nearly a month now," Odinga said in a brief statement. He shook hands with Kibaki following Thursday's meeting.

Government officials told CNN they are not willing to negotiate the legitimacy of Kibaki's presidency - which is at the center of the electoral dispute - pointing out that the opposition must take up that issue with Kenya's courts.