Kenya tourists urged to stay safe

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7175541.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has urged Britons in Kenya to exercise "extreme caution" and to remain indoors in areas hit by "appalling" violence.

He also warned would-be travellers to the strife-torn country against any "non-essential" travel.

Police say 600 people have been killed in violent clashes following the disputed 27 December election.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the effect of the ethnic strife in Kenya was a "humanitarian tragedy".

The east African country has been hit by a wave of demonstrations and violence since President Mwai Kibaki's victory.

The appalling humanitarian crisis we have seen unfolding on our television screens is due entirely to the post-election violence David MilibandForeign Secretary

Some 250,000 people have fled their homes in clashes between rival political supporters, ethnic groups and the police.

The Law Society of Kenya has called for Mr Kibaki to step down, saying the election was "not credible" and the announcement of a winner "unacceptable".

Mr Miliband told MPs: "The appalling humanitarian crisis we have seen unfolding on our television screens is due entirely to the post-election violence."

European Union observers have criticised the way some of the votes were counted, including anomalies between the results announced locally and nationally.

Democracy 'vital'

Mr Miliband added that all allegations of fraud needed to be investigated. Whatever the actual result, mediation was essential, he said.

It was vital for the whole of Africa that the democratic process worked and was seen to work, he said.

"Kenya's political leaders must be willing to make the necessary compromises to find a way forward," he said.

"They are more likely to do so with external help. That is why at the heart of all our conversations with Kenyan African, EU, Commonwealth, US and UN partners, has been the need for a credible mediation process."