Kofi Annan, hit by flu, delays Kenya mission

GENEVA (Reuters) - Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has severe flu and is delaying a trip to Kenya, where he was due to help mediate in the political crisis, his office said on Tuesday.

"On advice of doctors he has postponed his mission to Nairobi for a few days," Annan's office said in a statement released in Geneva.

The Ghanaian, head of a panel of "Eminent Africans", had been due to travel to Kenya on Tuesday to try to mediate between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga following post-election violence.

Annan is in touch with the panel's other members and the team would proceed to Nairobi "as soon as feasible", according to the brief statement.

Aides declined to comment further on Annan's health or say whether he was in hospital in Geneva, his base since retiring as U.N. secretary-general a year ago.

"Mr. Annan is okay, basically he is recovering," an aide told Reuters.

(Reporting by Laura MacInnis and Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Jonathan Lynn and Giles Elgood)