EU to study joint Kenya mission with U.S.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will discuss with the United States a possible joint mission to Kenya to assess the unrest after the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki, a spokeswoman said on Thursday.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana would raise the idea with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice by telephone as soon as possible, a Solana spokeswoman said.

The exact mandate of the mission, which could involve a joint envoy or team of envoys, would depend on the outcome of the conversation, she added.

"Solana is following the situation very closely and is deeply concerned. He fully supports the African Union mediation efforts," the spokeswoman said of the African diplomacy.

Kibaki was sworn in on Sunday after official results showed he had narrowly beaten opposition leader Raila Odinga. Both sides have accused the other of vote-rigging and EU observers said the election fell short of international standards.

More than 300 Kenyans have been killed in tribal and political violence since. Police on Thursday were battling thousands of anti-government protesters trying to march to a banned rally.

(Reporting by Mark John; Editing by Janet Lawrence)