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Refugees flee as violence continues in western Kenya

More refugees streamed from western Kenya yesterday as fresh violence followed the announcement of Cabinet appointments that the opposition said undermined attempts to resolve a crisis over disputed elections that has killed more than 500 people.

Diplomats worked to bring the political rivals together yesterday but it was unclear whether the new tension would force a compromise, or heighten the anger and distrust that has so far kept them from even agreeing to talk to one another.

With suitcases on their heads and frightened children grabbing at their skirts, women searched for transport to get away from Kisumu, a main town in the west, where opposition candidate Raila Odinga has strong support and those seen as government supporters have been attacked. Seven buses and two dozen cars overloaded with people waited on a police escort to try to reach Nairobi.

On the road to the capital, dozens of angry youths brandishing sticks burned tires to block the route.

On Tuesday night, police fired over the heads of young protesters in Kisumu, and one man was shot in the stomach, according to a resident at the scene.

Nigerian President Mwai Kibaki's list for half the Cabinet, released late on Tuesday, included no one from Odinga's party, even though the two sides were expected to discuss power sharing after a disputed Dec. 27 election.

In some areas, the political dispute has sparked ethnic violence, with other tribes pitted against Kibaki's Kikuyu, which has long dominated politics and the economy in Kenya. Many of those fleeing Kisumu yesterday, though, were Kamba -- Kalonzo Musyoka, from the Kamba tribe, was named new vice president. The opposition says Kibaki stole the vote, international observers say there was rigging and even Kibaki's election chief says he can't be sure who won.

At the Kisumu bus station, where fares doubled overnight, businessman Isaac Notuva said: "Our lives are in danger. Now those things that happened to the Kikuyu will happen to the Kamba."

Thousands of Kibaki's Kikuyu people already had been chased or burned out of their homes in Kisumu. In all, more than 255,000 have been driven from their homes across the country, leaving many spending chilly nights in the open and without food.

Hundreds of people gathered for food and other supplies in Nairobi's Kibera slum yesterday, but the crowds turned rowdy. Several men stole sacks of corn flour as volunteers tried to hand the food out.

"There are some boys there taking all the food," said Eunice Ochien, 21, who was pushed out of line. "It isn't fair."

Salim Lone, a spokesman for main Odinga's party, said the Cabinet announcement was "a slap in the face" and intended to undermine African Union-mediated talks expected to begin yesterday. But late on Tuesday, the government issued a statement saying there was room in the remainder of the Cabinet for opposition party members.

Odinga's party won 95 parliament seats and Kibaki's party 43 in legislative elections held the same day as the presidential elections, meaning it will be difficult for Kibaki to govern without making some overture to Odinga.

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