This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7208421.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Curfew after Kenya town clashes | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Kenyan police have imposed a curfew after at least 10 people were killed in clashes in the central town of Nakuru. | |
Rival gangs of young men battled with machetes, metal bars, bows and arrows, while thick smoke billowed up from burning buildings. | |
"Nakuru town has been shut down... hundreds are injured in hospital," Kenya Red Cross head Abbas Gullet said. | |
Some 700 people have been killed in clashes between rival ethnic and political groups since disputed polls. | |
The violence comes despite hopes of progress after President Mwai Kibaki met opposition leader Raila Odinga for the first time on Thursday since December's disputed polls. | |
Revenge | |
The curfew runs from 1900 local time (1600 GMT) until 0700 (0400 GMT). | |
Nakuru is capital of the Rift Valley, which has seen some of the worst violence in the past month. | |
The two rivals have met but not agreed on anything | |
Thousands of people have fled to the town from other parts of the province. | |
Some of the latest violence seems to be revenge by members of President Kibaki's Kikuyu community on groups seen as pro-opposition, such as the Kalenjins and Luos. | |
"We have vowed that for every Kikuyu killed in Eldoret, we shall kill two Kalenjins who are living in Nakuru," said bus conductor Dennis Kariuki, according to Reuters news agency. | |
But AP news agency reports that some armed men yelled: "Raila is our president. Kikuyus go out of Rift Valley." | |
'Rooftops' | |
Former UN chief Kofi Annan has been holding further talks to try to end the crisis. | |
His spokesman said he would be meeting former President Daniel arap Moi, religious leaders and the head of the Electoral Commission of Kenya on Friday. | His spokesman said he would be meeting former President Daniel arap Moi, religious leaders and the head of the Electoral Commission of Kenya on Friday. |
I can't go back to Kapkenduywa primary school because I will be killed by attackers Kimani Nganga MarugeKenya's oldest school pupil OAP pupil flees violencePress sees long road ahead | |
Mr Annan has no immediate plans to lead further direct talks between the election rivals. | Mr Annan has no immediate plans to lead further direct talks between the election rivals. |
Although Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga shook hands on Thursday, the opposition were angered by the president's statement that he had had been "duly elected", saying he was not committed to meaningful talks. | |
But Kenya's Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula appealed to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to give the discussions "a chance". | But Kenya's Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula appealed to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to give the discussions "a chance". |
"We don't want to conduct negotiations from the rooftops," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "We don't want to conduct negotiations from the rooftops," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
Mr Odinga's ODM say he was cheated of victory. | |
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch issued a report accusing opposition officials of helping to organise ethnic violence in the Rift Valley region. | |
ODM spokesman Salim Lone said HRW should provide concrete evidence before jeopardising mediation efforts. The party has denied previous accusations of ethnic cleansing. | ODM spokesman Salim Lone said HRW should provide concrete evidence before jeopardising mediation efforts. The party has denied previous accusations of ethnic cleansing. |
"Raila Odinga has repeatedly condemned the killings," he told the BBC. | "Raila Odinga has repeatedly condemned the killings," he told the BBC. |
The unrest triggered by the election on 27 December has driven 250,000 people from their homes. | The unrest triggered by the election on 27 December has driven 250,000 people from their homes. |