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Outrage at Kenya assassinations Outrage at Kenya assassinations
(about 1 hour later)
A UN investigator into extra-judicial killings in Kenya has called for an independent inquiry into the murder of two human rights activists.A UN investigator into extra-judicial killings in Kenya has called for an independent inquiry into the murder of two human rights activists.
Oscar Kamau Kingara was shot dead along with a colleague hours after a government spokesman accused their group of aiding a criminal gang.Oscar Kamau Kingara was shot dead along with a colleague hours after a government spokesman accused their group of aiding a criminal gang.
A consortium of human rights groups in Kenya says it holds the government responsible for the death.A consortium of human rights groups in Kenya says it holds the government responsible for the death.
The police have denied any government involvement in the killings.The police have denied any government involvement in the killings.
But UN investigator Philip Alston said that in the circumstances, suspicion was bound to fall on the Kenyan police.But UN investigator Philip Alston said that in the circumstances, suspicion was bound to fall on the Kenyan police.
The human rights community in Kenya holds the government fully and wholly responsible for the assassinations Cyprian Nyamwamu Kenya police 'ran death squads'
"It is extremely troubling when those working to defend human rights in Kenya can be assassinated in broad daylight in the middle of Nairobi," said Mr Alston, who last week released a report accusing Kenya's police of involvement in extra-judicial killings."It is extremely troubling when those working to defend human rights in Kenya can be assassinated in broad daylight in the middle of Nairobi," said Mr Alston, who last week released a report accusing Kenya's police of involvement in extra-judicial killings.
Mr Kingara is one of those who gave evidence to Mr Alston.Mr Kingara is one of those who gave evidence to Mr Alston.
"This constitutes a major threat to the rule of law, regardless of who might be responsible for the killings," said the UN investigator. The human rights community in Kenya holds the government fully and wholly responsible for the assassinations Cyprian Nyamwamu class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7909523.stm">Kenya police 'ran death squads' "This constitutes a major threat to the rule of law, regardless of who might be responsible for the killings," said the UN investigator.
Mr Alston's report last week called for Kenya's top policeman and the attorney general to resign for failing to address police impunity. Mr Alston's report called for Kenya's top policeman and the attorney general to resign for failing to address police impunity.
Blood-spattered car
Mr Kingara and his colleague John Paul Oulu were shot dead in their car near State House, the official residence of the Kenyan president.Mr Kingara and his colleague John Paul Oulu were shot dead in their car near State House, the official residence of the Kenyan president.
Afterwards university students clashed with riot police, with students refusing to release the blood-spattered car and the two bodies to police, according to a report on the Associated Press. Afterwards a student was shot dead in a riot sparked by the killings.
Police Commissioner Hussein Ali says three policemen have been arrested in connection with the student's death.
He said he would make a statement about Mr Kingara's shooting in a couple of weeks after a comprehensive investigation.
'Front'
But Mr Alston says only an independent investigation will do.
"It is imperative, if the Kenya police are to be exonerated, for an independent team called from somewhere like Scotland Yard or the South African police to investigate," he said.
According to Mr Alston, the two human rights defenders were on their way to a meeting with a senior human rights officer of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights when they were shot at point-blank range whilst sitting in heavy traffic.
The killings have outraged the human rights community.The killings have outraged the human rights community.
"The human rights community in Kenya holds the government fully and wholly responsible for the assassinations," Cyprian Nyamwamu of the Kenya Human Rights Consortium told the BBC."The human rights community in Kenya holds the government fully and wholly responsible for the assassinations," Cyprian Nyamwamu of the Kenya Human Rights Consortium told the BBC.
"These two colleagues, members of the Oscar Foundation, are genuine, established, renowned human rights defenders," he said."These two colleagues, members of the Oscar Foundation, are genuine, established, renowned human rights defenders," he said.
Mr Kingara's Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic published a report last year, which said that 8,040 young Kenyans have been executed or tortured to death since 2002 in a police crackdown on a gang known as the Mungiki.Mr Kingara's Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic published a report last year, which said that 8,040 young Kenyans have been executed or tortured to death since 2002 in a police crackdown on a gang known as the Mungiki.
Earlier on Thursday, a government spokesman had accused the Oscar Foundation of raising money for the Mungiki. On Thursday, a government spokesman accused the Oscar Foundation of raising money for the Mungiki, which is a banned organisation.
Also on Thursday, members of the gang had led protests against police violence in the capital Nairobi and other towns. "It is a front so they can be able to carry out their activities," Alfred Mutua said.
He spoke as members of the led protests against police violence in the capital Nairobi and other towns.
They were calling for Mr Alston's recommendations to be implemented.