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Kenya diplomatic push for peace Kenya diplomatic push for peace
(40 minutes later)
Both sides in Kenya's disputed election have accused the other of violence as diplomatic efforts intensify to defuse the country's political crisis.Both sides in Kenya's disputed election have accused the other of violence as diplomatic efforts intensify to defuse the country's political crisis.
At least 275 people have been killed, including 30 in western Kenya burned to death while sheltering in a church.At least 275 people have been killed, including 30 in western Kenya burned to death while sheltering in a church.
Many Kenyans have been taking refuge from armed mobs and looters as fears mount of further attacks and reprisals.Many Kenyans have been taking refuge from armed mobs and looters as fears mount of further attacks and reprisals.
Police in the capital Nairobi have set up barricades at the major roundabouts into the city and halted traffic.Police in the capital Nairobi have set up barricades at the major roundabouts into the city and halted traffic.
As commuters cautiously start the working year, there are fears of renewed violence if a rally planned by the political opposition for Thursday goes ahead.As commuters cautiously start the working year, there are fears of renewed violence if a rally planned by the political opposition for Thursday goes ahead.
'Serious irregularities''Serious irregularities'
Tens of thousands of people have already fled their homes amid the unrest.Tens of thousands of people have already fled their homes amid the unrest.
I refuse to be asked to give the Kenyan people an anaesthetic so that they can be raped Raila OdingaOpposition leader In pictures: Kenya unrestI refuse to be asked to give the Kenyan people an anaesthetic so that they can be raped Raila OdingaOpposition leader In pictures: Kenya unrest
The African Union chairman, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, is due in Kenya on Wednesday, as the US and UK add their voices to international calls to end the violence.The African Union chairman, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, is due in Kenya on Wednesday, as the US and UK add their voices to international calls to end the violence.
Mwai Kibaki, who was officially re-elected president in Thursday's vote, and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who says he was robbed of victory by fraud, have both called for an end to the killing.Mwai Kibaki, who was officially re-elected president in Thursday's vote, and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who says he was robbed of victory by fraud, have both called for an end to the killing.
A government spokesman alleged to the BBC that Mr Odinga's supporters were "engaging in ethnic cleansing" in an "organised, calculated manner".A government spokesman alleged to the BBC that Mr Odinga's supporters were "engaging in ethnic cleansing" in an "organised, calculated manner".
But Mr Odinga countered that Mr Kibaki's government was "guilty, directly, of genocide".But Mr Odinga countered that Mr Kibaki's government was "guilty, directly, of genocide".
Asked if he would urge his supporters to calm down, Mr Odinga told the BBC: "I refuse to be asked to give the Kenyan people an anaesthetic so that they can be raped."Asked if he would urge his supporters to calm down, Mr Odinga told the BBC: "I refuse to be asked to give the Kenyan people an anaesthetic so that they can be raped."
He also ruled out a legal challenge to the poll result, saying: "We are not going to go Kibaki's courts." class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7167336.stm">Horror as church burned class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7167617.stm">Rwanda fears propel West
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7167336.stm">Horror as church burned He also ruled out a legal challenge to the poll result, saying: "We are not going to go to Kibaki's courts."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UK Foreign Minister David Miliband have issued a joint statement pointing to reports of "serious irregularities" in the vote count.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UK Foreign Minister David Miliband have issued a joint statement pointing to reports of "serious irregularities" in the vote count.
"The immediate priority is to combine a sustained call from Kenya's political leaders for the cessation of violence by their followers with an intensive political and legal process that can build a united and peaceful future for Kenya," the statement said."The immediate priority is to combine a sustained call from Kenya's political leaders for the cessation of violence by their followers with an intensive political and legal process that can build a united and peaceful future for Kenya," the statement said.
The BBC's Karen Allen in Kenya says people there now want the international community to step in and resolve the situation.
Kenya is a country with 42 tribes and the elections have exposed deep ethnic fault lines, says our correspondent.
There were reports of several more deaths overnight, with two police officers killed in the western town of Kericho by youths armed with bows and arrows, a police official told AFP news agency.There were reports of several more deaths overnight, with two police officers killed in the western town of Kericho by youths armed with bows and arrows, a police official told AFP news agency.
Poll watchdog 'pressured'Poll watchdog 'pressured'
But the country has been shocked by the deaths of dozens of people in a church that was torched in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret. But the country has been shocked by the deaths of dozens of people - mainly Kikuyu, the same tribe as Mr Kibaki - in a church that was torched in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret.
The majority of those who died were Kikuyu, the same tribe as Mr Kibaki, and there have been reports of people being targeted on the basis of their ethnicity. The BBC's Karen Allen has just returned from the church, which had been sheltering mostly women and children, and described a scene of utter devastation.
Witnesses said that a mob angry about the election result doused the church with petrol before setting it alight.
Commuters travel by foot after police blocked roads to trafficCommuters travel by foot after police blocked roads to traffic
Abbass Gullet, secretary general for Kenya's Red Cross, told AFP that only those from "the right ethnic group" had been allowed through barricades in some places. She saw two bodies outside the charred building, one a man who appeared to have been hacked to death with a machete and the burned remains of a woman.
Aid agencies are warning of a "humanitarian catastrophe" if the crisis is not defused. Our correspondent spoke to a mother who said the arsonists had tossed her three-year-old daughter back into the flames as they tried to escape.
The Kenyan Red Cross has said that in the Rift Valley, at least 70,000 people have been displaced as a result of the unrest, describing it as "a national disaster". The Kenyan Red Cross has said that in the Rift Valley, at least 70,000 people have been displaced.
Ugandan officials also reported hundreds of Kikuyu tribes people crossing the border from Kenya, AFP reported. Ugandan officials also reported hundreds of Kikuyu tribes people crossing the border from Kenya.
Mr Kibaki was declared the winner on Sunday after a controversial three-day counting process.Mr Kibaki was declared the winner on Sunday after a controversial three-day counting process.
On Tuesday, election commission chairman Samuel Kivuitu said he had been under pressure to make the election results public from Mr Kibaki's Party of National Unity and a minor opposition party that recently split from Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement.On Tuesday, election commission chairman Samuel Kivuitu said he had been under pressure to make the election results public from Mr Kibaki's Party of National Unity and a minor opposition party that recently split from Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement.
EU observers said the poll "fell short of international standards", and four Kenyan election commissioners have joined calls for an independent judicial body to re-examine the process. EU observers said the poll "fell short of international standards" but the government has denied fraud.
But Finance Minister Amos Kimunya denied electoral fraud allegations in a BBC interview.
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