KENYA/UK: Mob sets fire to church in Kenya killing 30. Gordon Brown calls for an end to the violence

Record ID: 361574

  • Title: KENYA/UK: Mob sets fire to church in Kenya killing 30. Gordon Brown calls for an end to the violence
  • Date: 2nd January 2008
  • Summary: PEOPLE WALKING IN THE STREET PASSING PARAMILITARY POLICE
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAUITJWOTFGCEGUPOGH1U69644
  • Story Text: Bodies and debris lay in Kenyan streets as Western powers pressed President Mwai Kibaki to investigate a disputed re-election that has triggered days of riots killing at least 150 people. The opposition estimates about 250 deaths.
    Tribal clashes have rocked Kenya since President Mwai Kibaki's disputed re-election on Sunday. At least 180 people have died nationwide and the death toll looked sure to rise.
    Witnesses said about 30 charred bodies, including women and children, were strewn about the smouldering wreckage of the Kenya Assemblies of God Pentecostal church near Eldoret town.
    Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said they could not yet give a definite death toll.

    "This is the first time in history that any group has attacked a church. We never expected the savagery to go so far," he told a news conference in the capital Nairobi.
    Reinforcements were being rushed to the area to arrest all troublemakers "regardless of their status in society," he said.

    "we have not been able to confirm reports concerning the casualties because as you know, as you have been informed there are similarly organised attacks within Eldoret and police are struggling to contain the situation as it is."
    Residents and a security source said about 200 people had been seeking refuge at the church. The victims were mostly Kikuyus from Kibaki's ethnic group who fled homes in the area in fear of their lives.
    Earlier Government spokesman Alfred Gitonga told a news conference public meetings would be banned to try and halt the violence.

    "Anybody calling for public meetings, public rallies or anything, they should know that the police commissioner announced that the government will not allow any public rallies after the elections and this is a decision that was made prior to the violence we are seeing and prior to the general elections," Gitonga said.
    Odinga however said that their planned meeting would go ahead.

    "We have given sufficient notification to the police and therefore wish to announce once again here the meeting scheduled to take place on thursday at Uhuru park is on. We shall go to Uhuru park for that meeting."
    British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged Kenya's political leaders to talk, and said: "The violence must be brought to an end."

    "It is unacceptable that lives are being lost, people should now come together and talk, and I'll be talking to the various parties through the day," Brown added.
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