NAIROBI (AFP) - Algeria has pledged to assist Kenya resettle villagers displaced by communal violence that followed disputed elections at the end of last year, the presidency announced Friday.

The pledge came two days after Nairobi appealed for help raising 30 billion shillings (492 million dollars, 319 million euros) to assist the displaced, saying it had only raised one billion shillings (16.4 million dollars,10.6 million euros) so far.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in a message to his Kenyan counterpart, Mwai Kibaki, offered to assist the country, which is also facing acute food shortages, the presidential press service said in a statement.

"The Algerian government has pledged to support the Kenya government in its efforts to resettle the internally displaced persons in the country," it said, adding that the pledge was delivered by Algerian Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdel Kader Messahel.

It did not say how much Algeria will contribute.

The government on Thursday said it had resettled some 60,000 people under a programme, dubbed "Operation Return Home" launched on Monday and that 70,000 others were still in camps.

The violence broke out following December 27 elections which opposition candidate Raila Odinga claimed were rigged by incumbent Kibaki.

The crisis left at least 1,500 people dead and displaced around 300,000.

Some have since returned to their homes but others have continued to face attacks and intimidation, even after the February 28 political deal which saw Odinga join a coalition cabinet and become Kibaki's prime minister.

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