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Kenya police fire warning shots Kenyan police fire warning shots
(about 1 hour later)
Police in the Kenyan city of Kisumu have fired shots over the heads of protesters at a rally against disputed presidential election results. Kenyan police in the western city of Kisumu have fired shots over the heads of protesters at a rally against disputed presidential election results.
Some 300 people were trying to march into the town centre when the police opened fire. A BBC reporter there saw two people being carried away. Some 300 people were trying to march into the town centre when police opened fire. A BBC reporter there saw two people being carried away.
There have also been reports of scuffles in Mombasa and Eldoret. In Nairobi, two women were wounded by stray bullets fired by police in a brief stand-off in the Kibera slum.
The rallies are part of a three-day nationwide protest called for by the opposition Orange Democratic Movement. The rallies are part of nationwide protests called by the opposition.
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
They come a day after an ODM candidate became parliament speaker. The protests, planned in 30 cities and towns across the country over three days, have been banned by police, who called them "inappropriate".
The protests, planned in 30 cities and towns across the country, have been banned by police, who called them "inappropriate". They were called by the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), after President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of a disputed poll.
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. Parliament's new speaker, the ODM's Kenneth Marende, told the BBC that the ODM had the constitutional right to protest against Mr Kibaki's re-election.
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 of last month's poll 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.
Sporadic gunfireSporadic gunfire
The BBC's Karen Allen in the western town of Kisumu, home to ODM presidential challenger Raila Odinga, said protesters had dispersed. 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.
However, sporadic gunfire could still be heard. Our correspondent saw two people being carried away from the scene of the protest, and there are unconfirmed reports of one person being killed.
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 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. In the capital, Nairobi, security forces are out in force, but so far heavy rain has prevented large numbers of demonstrators from appearing on the streets.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7190263.stm">Slum wary of ethnic violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7175694.stm">Kenya's dubious election Opposition supporters, many of them from the city's slums, had said they would march on the politically symbolic Uhuru (Freedom) Park.
"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.
ODM leaders are gathering at their party headquarters in the capital to prepare a statement, reports say. Speaking to reporters at the ODM headquarters in the city, Mr Odinga said: "Nothing will stop us from mounting such rallies. We will proceed to town."
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. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7190263.stm">Slum wary of ethnic violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7175694.stm">Kenya's dubious election
Many shopkeepers have boarded up their properties to try to prevent looting Mr Odinga and other party officials then set off to Uhuru Park by car, because of the heavy rain.
There have been running battles between protesters and police in Mombasa where several people have been injured. The police presence remains minimal compared to Tuesday, when large parts of the city's business district were sealed off as MPs were being sworn in.
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. Many shopkeepers have boarded up their properties to try to prevent looting.
In Eldoret, which witnessed the burning of a church in post-poll violence, protesters also erected roadblocks in the outskirts of town. In the port city of Mombasa, there have been running battles between protesters and police and several people have been injured.
A BBC correspondent there said opposition activists wearing white ribbons and carrying placards staged sit-ins at the main roads leading into the city.
In the western opposition stronghold of 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 said the rallies would be unlawful until the security situation across the country returned to normal.Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the rallies would be unlawful until the security situation across the country returned to normal.
Protesters carried a coffin to symbolise the death of democracy Protesters carried a coffin to symbolise the "death of democracy"
"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.
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.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 the 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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