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| Africa Horn |
| Kenya govt turns on critics, Odinga hailed |
| 2008-01-22 |
| Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki's government warned opposition supporters on Monday it would crack down on planned new protests against his disputed poll win, after it lashed out at critics, including Britain's ambassador. About 650 people have been killed in violence since Kibaki's re-election last month and 250,000 displaced in a country that is more used to taking refugees from war-torn Sudan and Somalia. Many of the deaths occured in ethnic clashes involving machete-wielding youths, although police have also shot dead scores of demonstrators in Nairobi and Kisumu in a largely successful bid to crush opposition rallies. More violence is feared as the opposition has called for further "mass action" on Thursday. Police have banned it. "Mass action only provides an opportunity for criminals to loot and commit other crimes ... and interfere with the freedoms of other Kenyans who may not wish to participate," State Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said in a statement. "No freedom is absolute ... A few people will not be allowed to continue causing disruption. All illegal acts will be dealt with accordingly," he added. Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga returned to the opposition stronghold of Kisumu, for the first time since the disputed Dec 27. election, to a rapturous welcome. "I'm saddened by the brutal killing of innocent unarmed people demonstrating peacefully," Odinga told Reuters as thousands sang his name and six coffins of people said to be shot by police were laid out in a stadium in the western town. "Kibaki has proved he has no respect for democracy." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 machete-wielding youths well, as long as they're youts, the wounds should be shallow and non-reportable. Suck it up |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-01-22 22:09 |
| #1 State Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said in a statement. "No freedom is absolute ... A few people will not be allowed to continue causing disruption...... |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-01-22 00:46 |