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Kenya police and protesters clash Kenya police fire warning shots
(20 minutes later)
Riot police are patrolling the streets of 30 cities and towns in Kenya for planned opposition rallies against last month's disputed presidential poll. Police in the Kenyan city of Kisumu have fired shots over the heads of protesters at a rally against disputed presidential election results.
In Mombasa port, police have fired tear gas to disperse Orange Democratic Movement supporters heading to one of the banned gatherings. Some 300 people were trying to march into the town centre when the police opened fire. There have been no reported injuries.
A BBC correspondent in the capital, Nairobi, says heavy rain has so far prevented large crowds gathering. There have also been reports of scuffles in Mombasa and Eldoret.
The rallies come a day after an ODM candidate became parliament speaker. The rallies are part of a three-day nationwide protest called for by the opposition Orange Democratic Movement.
See an aerial map of Nairobi and the city centre
The new speaker, Kenneth Marende, told the BBC that the ODM had the constitutional right to begin three days of protests against the election.
The police are well prepared to counter any groups attempting to disrupt peace Eric KiraithePolice spokesmanThe police are well prepared to counter any groups attempting to disrupt peace Eric KiraithePolice spokesman
The protests have been banned by police, who called them "inappropriate". They come a day after an ODM candidate became parliament speaker.
The BBC's Karen Allen in the western town of Kisumu, home to ODM presidential challenger Raila Odinga, says expectations are running high as crowds prepare to defy the police. The protests, planned in 30 cities and towns across the country, have been banned by police, who called them "inappropriate".
Mr Kibaki was re-elected on 27 December, but Mr Odinga says the poll was rigged. Election observers have also complained of irregularities in the presidential vote count. The new speaker, Kenneth Marende, told the BBC that the ODM had the constitutional right to begin three days of protests against the election of President Mwai Kibaki.
Unrest since the announcement of the results has claimed more than 600 lives, driven about a quarter of a million of people from their homes and shaken relations between the country's dominant ethnic groups.Unrest since the announcement of the results has claimed more than 600 lives, driven about a quarter of a million of people from their homes and shaken relations between the country's dominant ethnic groups.
'White ribbons' Sporadic gunfire
The BBC's Karen Allen in the western town of Kisumu, home to ODM presidential challenger Raila Odinga, said protesters had dispersed.
However, sporadic gunfire could still be heard.
Security forces are patrolling the streets of the capital, Nairobi, but so far heavy rain has prevented large numbers of demonstrators from appearing on the streets.
See an aerial map of Nairobi and the city centre
Opposition supporters, many of them from the slums of Nairobi, hope to march on the city's politically symbolic Uhuru (Freedom) Park.Opposition supporters, many of them from the slums of Nairobi, hope to march on the city's politically symbolic Uhuru (Freedom) Park.
Slum wary of ethnic violenceKenya's dubious electionSlum wary of ethnic violenceKenya's dubious election
"People are anticipating chaos and many of them will go to the rallies," one resident of Nairobi's Mathare slum told the Reuters news agency."People are anticipating chaos and many of them will go to the rallies," one resident of Nairobi's Mathare slum told the Reuters news agency.
But correspondents say so far there has been little sign of this.
ODM leaders are gathering at their party headquarters in the capital to prepare a statement, reports say.ODM leaders are gathering at their party headquarters in the capital to prepare a statement, reports say.
There are heavily armed police stationed around Uhuru Park, but otherwise police presence remains minimal compared to Tuesday, when large parts of the city's business district was sealed off as MPs were being sworn in.There are heavily armed police stationed around Uhuru Park, but otherwise police presence remains minimal compared to Tuesday, when large parts of the city's business district was sealed off as MPs were being sworn in.
Many shopkeepers have boarded up their properties to try to prevent lootingMany shopkeepers have boarded up their properties to try to prevent looting
There have been running battles between protesters and police in Mombasa where several people have been injured.There have been running battles between protesters and police in Mombasa where several people have been injured.
A BBC correspondent in the port city says opposition activists dressed in white ribbons and displaying placards have staged sit-ins at the main roads leading into the city. A BBC correspondent in the port city says opposition activists wearing white ribbons and carrying placards staged sit-ins at the main roads leading into the city.
In Eldoret, which witnessed the burning of a church in post-poll violence, protesters also erected roadblocks in the outskirts of town.In Eldoret, which witnessed the burning of a church in post-poll violence, protesters also erected roadblocks in the outskirts of town.
Burnt-out buildingsBurnt-out buildings
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe says rallies are unlawful until the security situation across the country returns to normal. Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the rallies would be unlawful until the security situation across the country returned to normal.
These opposition supporters cheered the speaker vote in Kisumu
"The constitution allows groups to hold the protests but the police are well prepared to counter any groups attempting to disrupt peace," he told the BBC."The constitution allows groups to hold the protests but the police are well prepared to counter any groups attempting to disrupt peace," he told the BBC.
The shells of burnt-out buildings and petrol stations torched in the last round of protests in Kisumu are a reminder that the police will not tolerate such gatherings, our reporter Karen Allen says. Mr Kibaki was re-elected on 27 December, but Mr Odinga says the poll was rigged. Election observers have also complained of irregularities in the presidential vote count.
Attempts at outside mediation between Mr Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki have failed with the latest, a bid by Kofi Annan, postponed when the former United Nations chief fell ill.Attempts at outside mediation between Mr Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki have failed with the latest, a bid by Kofi Annan, postponed when the former United Nations chief fell ill.
At Tuesday's inauguration of the new parliament, Kenya's two bitter rivals studiously ignored each other, correspondents say.At Tuesday's inauguration of the new parliament, Kenya's two bitter rivals studiously ignored each other, correspondents say.
The new speaker said opposition's dominance of parliament would make it difficult for President Mwai Kibaki's PNU party to impose itself, and that it might be forced into forming a coalition.The new speaker said opposition's dominance of parliament would make it difficult for President Mwai Kibaki's PNU party to impose itself, and that it might be forced into forming a coalition.
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