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Seven killed in overnight clashes in Kenya

Locals run away after police fired tear gas during fighting in the Mathare slum, Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

Seven people were killed in clashes in the Kenyan capital and western region as the country reeled from deadly opposition protests against President Mwai Kibaki's reelection, police said on Sunday.

Police recovered three bodies in Nairobi's Mathare slums after overnight clashes between rival gangs, bringing to 45 the number of deaths over the past five days of unrest.

Police commander Paul Ruto said a man was hacked to death in Sunday afternoon fighting, bring the Mathare toll to four.

"Members of one community started terrorizing members of the rival community," Ruto said.

"These people are criminals. They are armed with pangas and pistols but our officers are on the ground," Ruto said.

Police said the fighting erupted after members of Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe started to evict those of opposition chief Raila Odinga's Luo tribe from the slum, where the two tribes have been clashing in recent weeks over the disputed polls.

Security forces shot dead three suspected arsonists in Kipkelion area in the Rift Valley Province, which has been hit by post-poll rioting and tribal fighting, police said.

Odinga claims he was robbed of the presidency by Kibaki in the Dec. 27 elections that fell short of international standards, foreign observer groups have said.

Three days of opposition protests that began on Jan. 16 provoked a fierce crackdown by anti-riot and paramilitary police, and some unarmed civilians were shot down in the capital and the western city of Kisumu.

By Sunday, calm had returned in several towns across the country that had been hit by rioting, but there were fears of revenge killings and other crimes, mainly in the crowded shantytowns.

Odinga, who attended a church service in Nairobi's violence-scarred Kibera slums, said he was open to dialogue as former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan was set to arrive in Kenya today to push for a settlement between the feuding sides.

The government has rejected mediation efforts, insisting there is no crisis in the country, but has welcomed African leaders to facilitate dialogue.

"Without justice there can be no peace, without peace there can be no unity, without unity there can't be a nation and development. The people of this country have to come together," Odinga said.

"We want to embrace dialogue ... We shall overcome," he said before touring the shantytown that he represents in parliament.

"This war is between us and those who stole our votes and they are just a small group, so I don't want to see tribal issues emerging here. That will tarnish our struggle for justice," he said.

"We will try as much as we can to help those bereaved from the skirmishes and help bail out those in custody in various parts of the country," Odinga said.

Kibaki, in a statement released late on Saturday: "stressed that security of the country was paramount and the government will continue beefing up security in affected areas to ensure the lives of wananchi [people] and their property are protected."

Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement party on Saturday called for another day of peaceful protests next week despite accusing police of killing people who participated in last week's demonstrations.
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