The Kenyan opposition's parliamentary majority was dwindling yesterday after the second murder of one of its lawmakers in the space of three days, a killing that led to the temporary suspension of talks on the political crisis.

The murder came as international impatience over Kenya burst into the open at an African Union summit where Alpha Oumar Konare, AU chairman, said: "We cannot sit with our hands folded. If Kenya burns, there will be nothing for tomorrow."