NEWSMAKER: Odinga in fight of his life over "stolen" poll

By Katie Nguyen

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Former political prisoner and opposition leader Raila Odinga shows no sign of relinquishing the fight to reverse narrow defeat in a presidential election that has pushed Kenya to the brink of chaos.

Under huge pressure to end an impasse sparking the country's worst clashes in years, Odinga has been urged to hold talks with his rival, President Mwai Kibaki, and stop supporters from his Luo tribe attacking Kibaki's Kikuyu kinsmen.

But with the death toll mounting, Odinga is still pressing on with probably the toughest battle of his turbulent political life to reclaim what he considers to be his "stolen" victory.

"People have seen their nascent democracy shackled, strangled and finally killed," he said, flanked by his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) colleagues.

"Stopping this is not in the hands of the ODM, this violence can be stopped immediately when Kibaki steps down.

"I am the elected president of the republic of Kenya."

Last week's vote was widely seen as the 62-year-old's best chance of winning the presidency and fulfilling the dream that eluded his late father, a hero of the independence struggle.

Many say Odinga, who helped propel Kibaki to the top job five years ago, may be too old and faces too much competition from party colleagues to run a powerful campaign in 2012.

With everything to gain, he has been buoyed by a chorus of international concern over the vote.

Looking tired and visibly angry at a flurry of press briefings, he has initially refused dialogue with his former ally -- unless there is international arbitration.

And he has arguably thrown fuel on the fire by insisting on a protest rally, despite a police ban.

"He's a tough character," said a Western diplomat. "He knows his community doesn't want him to stand down."

"RABBLE-ROUSER"

Critics say Odinga's defiance confirms his reputation for being a rabble-rouser, who admitted backing a 1982 coup attempt in a recent biography.

But many fear his call for peaceful mass action is a lightning rod for more bloodshed.