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| Kenya police arrest regional governor after coastal attacks | Kenya police arrest regional governor after coastal attacks |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Police in Kenya have arrested a regional governor in connection with a series of gun attacks in the coastal town of Mpeketoni earlier this month that killed at least 60 people. | Police in Kenya have arrested a regional governor in connection with a series of gun attacks in the coastal town of Mpeketoni earlier this month that killed at least 60 people. |
| Issa Timamy, governor of Lamu County where the town is located, is due to appear in court on Thursday. | Issa Timamy, governor of Lamu County where the town is located, is due to appear in court on Thursday. |
| President Uhuru Kenyatta has blamed "local political networks" for the violence. | President Uhuru Kenyatta has blamed "local political networks" for the violence. |
| But the Somali Islamist group, al-Shabab, said it was behind the attacks. | But the Somali Islamist group, al-Shabab, said it was behind the attacks. |
| Separatist arrests | Separatist arrests |
| President Kenyatta has dismissed al-Shabab's claims because members of one ethnic group were targeted in the attacks. | President Kenyatta has dismissed al-Shabab's claims because members of one ethnic group were targeted in the attacks. |
| Most of the dead were ethnic Kikuyus, like the president. Non-Muslims were singled out to be killed. | Most of the dead were ethnic Kikuyus, like the president. Non-Muslims were singled out to be killed. |
| Opposition parties have ridiculed Mr Kenyatta's claim and opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for dialogue with the government to address the security failings. | |
| The authorities also announced on Wednesday that they had arrested 13 alleged separatists accused of planning more attacks on the coast. | The authorities also announced on Wednesday that they had arrested 13 alleged separatists accused of planning more attacks on the coast. |
| In a statement, the interior ministry said those arrested were suspected of plotting "ethnic cleansing" attacks and were members of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), a coastal separatist group. | In a statement, the interior ministry said those arrested were suspected of plotting "ethnic cleansing" attacks and were members of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), a coastal separatist group. |
| On Tuesday, five people were killed in attack by an armed gang on the village of Witu, about 15km (nine miles) from the town of Mpeketoni. | On Tuesday, five people were killed in attack by an armed gang on the village of Witu, about 15km (nine miles) from the town of Mpeketoni. |
| Last week's attacks in Mpeketoni started on the evening of 15 June as locals were watching a football World Cup match on television. | Last week's attacks in Mpeketoni started on the evening of 15 June as locals were watching a football World Cup match on television. |
| Gunmen went on to carry out further assaults in villages nearby the next day. | Gunmen went on to carry out further assaults in villages nearby the next day. |
| The Kenyan government has since issued advice urging people to watch World Cup matches at home rather than gathering in bars or others public places. | The Kenyan government has since issued advice urging people to watch World Cup matches at home rather than gathering in bars or others public places. |