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Kenyan police block fresh rally Kenyan police block fresh rally
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of police in Kenya have deployed around the capital, Nairobi, to prevent an opposition rally.Thousands of police in Kenya have deployed around the capital, Nairobi, to prevent an opposition rally.
Opposition parties say they intend to press ahead with protest plans, after police blocked their rally on Thursday. Opposition parties say they intend to press ahead with protest plans, after police blocked their rally on Thursday, but there are no big crowds gathering.
But there are no big crowds gathering, and correspondents say there is little enthusiasm for further demonstrations. The opposition wants a re-run of last week's presidential poll, which they say was rigged.
The opposition contends that the government rigged last week's presidential poll. More than 300 people died in post-election violence. More than 300 people died in violence after the election. Another 70,000 have been displaced.
Another 70,000 have been displaced.
See an aerial map of Nairobi and the city centre See an aerial map of Nairobi and the city centre
Several hundred youths have gathered outside the offices of defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga's ODM party in Nairobi, saying they intend to press ahead with their planned protest. Police have sealed off Uhuru (Freedom) Park in Nairobi, the venue for the planned protests.
But the BBC's Grant Ferrett, who is in Nairobi, says many fewer are on duty than before.
The opposition neighbourhood of Kibera is also being patrolled
And with traffic back on the city streets, some shops and businesses have re-opened.
At one point several hundred youths had gathered outside the offices of defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga's ODM party in Nairobi, saying they intended to press ahead with their planned protest.
This is a country that has been held up as a model of stability. This picture has been shattered Desmond TutuSouth African Archbishop Back to the tribalism debateTurmoil fuels Luo grievancesDiplomacy faltersThis is a country that has been held up as a model of stability. This picture has been shattered Desmond TutuSouth African Archbishop Back to the tribalism debateTurmoil fuels Luo grievancesDiplomacy falters
But other opposition supporters have been telling the BBC they do not want to be beaten up by police.But other opposition supporters have been telling the BBC they do not want to be beaten up by police.
On Thursday security forces blocked a banned mass rally in Nairobi, using tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowds.On Thursday security forces blocked a banned mass rally in Nairobi, using tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowds.
Thousands of people had tried to gather in the city's Uhuru (Freedom) Park, many of them pouring out of Kibera slum and other shanty towns just after dawn.Thousands of people had tried to gather in the city's Uhuru (Freedom) Park, many of them pouring out of Kibera slum and other shanty towns just after dawn.
It would be like taking sheep to a court presided over by a hyena ODM leader William Ruto Rerun call
Police are again on patrol around Uhuru Park - though the BBC's Grant Ferrett says fewer than on Thursday. He says the atmosphere is much calmer.
Away from the violence, there is intense diplomatic and political activity.Away from the violence, there is intense diplomatic and political activity.
Opposition spokesmen have been explaining why they rejected the government's offer of talks once violence had ended. It would be like taking sheep to a court presided over by a hyena ODM leader William Ruto
Senior ODM leader William Ruto told the BBC Kenya was in a stalemate because Mr Kibaki had turned down a proposal for African Union mediation by the Ghanaian president John Kufuor. The opposition has called for the presidential elections to be re-run, under independent supervision, and with the current electoral commission sidelined.
"He should find the shortest route to the negotiating table," he said. ODM secretary-general Anyang Nyongo said Mr Kibaki should step aside and a transitional administration should be set up, with the new elections to be held in three months.
He also said the opposition had rejected a call by the attorney-general for an independent inquiry into the poll result "because the courts are full of people Mwai Kibaki has personally employed". A Kenyan government spokesman, Alfred Mutua, told the BBC the president was not in principle opposed to holding fresh elections.
"It would be like taking sheep to a court presided over by a hyena," Mt Ruto added. But he said any new polls must follow the correct legal process.
But government spokesman Alfred Mutua said Mr Kibaki had only appointed 10% of judges. Another opposition spokesman, William Ruto, rejected a call by the attorney general for an independent inquiry into the poll result "because the courts are full of people Mwai Kibaki has personally employed".
He told the BBC: "The president has said he wants peace. This morning he is holding a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu (of South Africa). This is all that is left of some kiosks after protesters were blocked "It would be like taking sheep to a court presided over by a hyena," Mr Ruto added.
Mr Odinga visited the injured in a Nairobi hospital But Mr Mutua said Mr Kibaki had only appointed 10% of judges.
"He has said he wants to talk to everybody, but he's not going to bow down to people who are trying to bring anarchy to a country.""He has said he wants to talk to everybody, but he's not going to bow down to people who are trying to bring anarchy to a country."
Before the meeting, Bishop Tutu was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying: "This is a country that has been held up as a model of stability. This picture has been shattered." South African former Archbishop Desmond Tutu had a meeting with Mr Kibaki, following his meeting with Mr Odinga on Thursday.
Before the meeting, Archbishop Tutu was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying: "This is a country that has been held up as a model of stability. This picture has been shattered."
The United States' top diplomat on Africa, Jendayi Frazer, is also due to arrive in Kenya, in what US officials say will be attempt to persuade rival political leaders to talk.The United States' top diplomat on Africa, Jendayi Frazer, is also due to arrive in Kenya, in what US officials say will be attempt to persuade rival political leaders to talk.
In Paris, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he believed the Kenyan elections had been rigged.
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