3 days of protest called in Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - January 11, 2008 The African Union president, who had been trying to mediate a
compromise between the opposition leader Raila Odinga and Kibaki,
left Kenya on Friday after failing to persuade the two even to
meet.
More than 500 people have died in protests and ethnic violence
since the Dec. 27 elections and ensuring vote tally that foreign
observers say was rigged. The election returned Kibaki to power for
another five-year term; Odinga came in second.
Police have banned all rallies since the violence broke out, and
have used tear gas, water cannons and live bullets fired over
people's heads to block previous attempts to assemble.
"Kenyans are entitled to protest peacefully at this blatant
violation of their fundamental rights," said Anyang Nyongo,
secretary-general of the Orange Democratic Movement.
He also said economic sanctions should be imposed on the
government because "it would be irresponsible for anybody to trust
this government with a single cent."
Nyongo announced rallies in more than 20 locations for
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
But Police Commissioner Mohamed Hussein said next week's rallies
will not be permitted.
Both sides traded blame Thursday for the political deadlock.
According to the government, Kibaki "offered dialogue," but
Odinga was not responsive. Odinga said Kibaki refused to sign an
agreement to establish an interim coalition government and conduct
an inquiry into the Electoral Commission of Kenya.
A government spokesman acknowledged Kibaki had not signed,
saying he was not involved in the consultations.
Odinga has said he would meet Kibaki only in the presence of an
international mediator. Kibaki wants direct talks.
The European Union, the United States and Britain have been
pressing for Kibaki and Odinga to meet. Britain has not recognized
the new government of Kenya, and for that to happen the Kenyan
government would have to "clearly represent a credible expression
of the will of the people," British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband told reporters in London on Thursday.
Kenya has turned over dozens of people to the U.S. and Ethiopia
as suspected terrorists. It also allows American forces to operate
from Kenyan bases and conducts joint exercises with U.S. troops in
the region. The U.S. is a major donor to Kenya, long seen as a
stable democracy in a region that includes war-ravaged Somalia and
Sudan. Aid amounts to roughly $1 billion a year, the U.S. Embassy
said.
Another blow was dealt to the credibility of the results when
the disgraced electoral commission chairman denied responsibility
for an official advertisement in leading newspapers detailing the
tally of those results by constituency.
"I did not submit this report or authorize my name to be used
for its publication," Samuel Kivuiti was quoted as saying in
Friday's edition of The Standard newspaper.
He questioned the timing of the three-page advertisement,
wondering why his commission had "rushed" to publication.
"It seems like some outside force has pushed for its
publication," he said.
Kivuiti had declared Kibaki the official victor in the race but
then said he was not sure that the incumbent had won and that he
had made the announcement under a lot of pressure.
---
Associated Press writers Michelle Faul and Malkhadir M. Muhumed
contributed to this report from Nairobi.
---
On the Web:
Kenya government: http://www.communication.go.ke/ Kenya
government Web site
Electoral Commission of Kenya: http://www.eck.or.ke
