Nairobi, April 23 -- A desperate attempt to have doctors call off their strike flopped last night when they failed to turn up for a crucial meeting called by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.

The doctors said the decision on whether or not to call off the strike rested entirely with their union's National Advisory Council. They said that was more important than attending a meeting with no concrete way forward.

The doctors' absence from the meeting aimed at ending the 41-day-old strike underlines the deepening gulf between the health professionals and the authorities in resolving the health crisis.

The government had earlier expressed optimism that the strike would be called off, citing a successful three-day meeting from Friday to S...