United Nations, February 07, SPA --  The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday passed a statement on Kenya expressing concern about the dire humanitarian situation and calling for the protection of civilians and U.N. personnel. The council emphasized that the “only solution” to the current crisis is through “dialogue, negotiation and compromise” and urged Kenyan political leaders to reach a political solution. It recommended that they end “ethnically-motivated attacks, dismantle armed gangs, improve the humanitarian situation, and restore human rights.” The statement deplored the post-election violence and “expresses its concern at the political, security, and economic impact of the crisis in Kenya on the wider region.” The council also expressed appreciation to former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the progress he has made in his mediation efforts between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. On Tuesday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would be dispatching U.N. humanitarian coordinator John Holmes to monitor the situation in Kenya. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/524895