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Deadly shoot-out with Kenyan sect Deadly shoot-out with Kenyan sect
(30 minutes later)
Police in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, have shot and killed 21 people in a gun battle with suspected members of the banned Mungiki sect.Police in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, have shot and killed 21 people in a gun battle with suspected members of the banned Mungiki sect.
Police say their officers engaged "a gang of thugs" resisting an operation to recover firearms stolen from three policemen who were killed on Monday.Police say their officers engaged "a gang of thugs" resisting an operation to recover firearms stolen from three policemen who were killed on Monday.
Several weapons are said to have been recovered and some policemen injured.Several weapons are said to have been recovered and some policemen injured.
Last week, the president warned Mungiki activities would no longer be tolerated and ordered a shoot-to-kill policy.Last week, the president warned Mungiki activities would no longer be tolerated and ordered a shoot-to-kill policy.
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the morning shoot-out took place in the Mathare district of Nairobi - a run down industrial sector. Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the morning shoot-out took place in the Mathare district of Nairobi - a run-down industrial sector.
He said police have cordoned off a large area of the slum reputed to host criminal gangs in the city.He said police have cordoned off a large area of the slum reputed to host criminal gangs in the city.
"Security officers during the operation met with resistance from a crowd of armed people who fired at the officers leading to the shoot-out and most of them were killed," Mr Kiraithe told the BBC News website."Security officers during the operation met with resistance from a crowd of armed people who fired at the officers leading to the shoot-out and most of them were killed," Mr Kiraithe told the BBC News website.
Three pistols, machetes and other crude weapons were recovered from the slain suspects and from several houses that were ransacked by the police's feared paramilitary wing, he said.Three pistols, machetes and other crude weapons were recovered from the slain suspects and from several houses that were ransacked by the police's feared paramilitary wing, he said.
On Monday night, three police officers were killed while on patrol on foot in the Mathare slums. They were robbed of their AK-47 rifles.On Monday night, three police officers were killed while on patrol on foot in the Mathare slums. They were robbed of their AK-47 rifles.
The security forces in Kenya have spent the past three months trying to crack down on criminal elements in the Mungiki - a sect which it is claimed runs an extensive extortion operation and is reported to have connections high up in Kenya politics.The security forces in Kenya have spent the past three months trying to crack down on criminal elements in the Mungiki - a sect which it is claimed runs an extensive extortion operation and is reported to have connections high up in Kenya politics.