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Annan's arrival fails to halt Kenya's bloodshed

Kenyans displaced by post-election violence wait in line for food at Jumhuri park in Nairobi on Tuesday. More than 700 have been killed and 260,000 displaced by the clashes. PHOTO: AFP

Kenyan police fired bullets in the air and tear gas at an opposition funeral procession yesterday as political strife claimed more lives, adding to the urgency of a new mediation mission by former UN chief Kofi Annan.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga fled the scene after the latest disturbance in the Kenyan capital, which has seen weeks of deadly unrest since the reelection of President Mwai Kibaki on Dec. 30.

Six people were killed late on Tuesday in western Kenya and another man in the Mathare slum of Nairobi, police said, taking the overall death toll to more than 780. They include international marathon runner Wesley Ngetich, 34, who was killed by a poisoned arrow on Monday.

Riot police fired tear gas at hundreds of opposition supporters taking part in the funeral procession as some chanted political slogans and blocked traffic.

At least 13 coffins carrying victims killed during opposition protests were laid out on tables, where mourners gathered for a mass.

Odinga and other opposition leaders were in a funeral tent when the tear gas was fired. They sped off in their vehicles as angry rock-throwing protesters clashed with police in a street nearby.

After the funeral rally was broken up, an angry mob set up a roadblock as police fired more tear gas and bullets in the air, resulting in running battles.

A local telecommunications exchange was set on fire in the chaos, an AFP correspondent said.

"Firefighters are battling the fire, over 20 vehicles were stoned, several people wounded and officers have fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse them," a police commander said.

"This was a peaceful demonstration to honor the buried and now the police starts firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Now we are angry, these peace talks cannot succeed," said Joseph Ngira, a 27-year-old protester.

Before his first talks with Kenya's feuding factions, Annan said he had no miracle answer to the unrest.

The opposition had indicated before the latest unrest that it was ready to call off demonstrations planned for today if Annan requested this at a meeting scheduled for later yesterday.

Annan said he would "count on the will, maturity, resourcefulness and judgment of the leaders" to bring them to talks.

"We expect all parties to enter into dialogue in good faith, and to seize this opportunity to end the suffering and uncertainty that has plagued the lives of Kenyans everywhere," he told reporters after arriving on Tuesday. "There can be no solution without genuine dialogue."

The African Union's Peace and Security Council on Tuesday condemned "gross violations of human rights" in Kenya and called for an investigation, which was also supported by the UN.

The World Bank and African Development Bank said they would review funding to Kenya if leaders fail to halt the crisis that has crippled the once-vibrant economy.

About 260,000 people have fled their homes because of the violence, which has shattered Kenya's image as a haven of stability in the region and dealt a huge blow to east Africa's biggest economy.

Also See: Kenyan marathon runner slain with arrow
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