This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7167363.stm

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Kenya ethnic violence fears grow Kenya diplomatic push for peace
(about 2 hours later)
Both sides in Kenya's disputed election have accused each other of ethnic violence as tens of thousands have fled their homes fearing further clashes. Both sides in Kenya's disputed election have accused the other of violence as diplomatic efforts intensify to defuse the country's political crisis.
At least 250 people have been killed, including 30 in western Kenya burned to death while sheltering in a church. At least 275 people have been killed, including 30 in western Kenya burned to death while sheltering in a church.
Many Kenyans have been taking refuge from armed mobs and looters as fears mount of further attacks and reprisals.Many Kenyans have been taking refuge from armed mobs and looters as fears mount of further attacks and reprisals.
The African Union chairman is due in Kenya, as the US and UK add their voices to AU calls to end the violence. Police in the capital Nairobi have set up barricades at the major roundabouts into the city and halted traffic.
As commuters cautiously start the working year, there are fears of renewed violence if a rally planned by the political opposition for Thursday goes ahead.
'Serious irregularities'
Tens of thousands of people have already fled their homes amid the unrest.
I refuse to be asked to give the Kenyan people an anaesthetic so that they can be raped Raila OdingaOpposition leader In pictures: Kenya unrest
The African Union chairman, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, is due in Kenya on Wednesday, as the US and UK add their voices to international calls to end the violence.
Mwai Kibaki, who was officially re-elected president in Thursday's vote, and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who says he was robbed of victory by fraud, have both called for an end to the killing.Mwai Kibaki, who was officially re-elected president in Thursday's vote, and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who says he was robbed of victory by fraud, have both called for an end to the killing.
class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7167324.stm">In pictures: Kenya unrest class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7167336.stm">Horror as church burned A government spokesman told the BBC that Mr Odinga's supporters are "engaging in ethnic cleansing" in an "organised, calculated manner". A government spokesman alleged to the BBC that Mr Odinga's supporters were "engaging in ethnic cleansing" in an "organised, calculated manner".
Mr Odinga has countered in an interview with the Associated Press that Mr Kibaki's government was "guilty, directly, of genocide". But Mr Odinga countered that Mr Kibaki's government was "guilty, directly, of genocide".
The majority of those killed in the church were Kikuyu, the same tribe as Mr Kibaki, and there have been reports of people being targeted on the basis of their ethnicity. Asked if he would urge his supporters to calm down, Mr Odinga told the BBC: "I refuse to be asked to give the Kenyan people an anaesthetic so that they can be raped."
Abbass Gullet, secretary general for Kenya's Red Cross, told AFP that only those from "the right ethnic group" had been allowed through barricades in some places. He also ruled out a legal challenge to the poll result, saying: "We are not going to go Kibaki's courts."
Correspondents say that although the election was more about economic and political issues than tribal ones, there is a danger that as the violence escalates it will take on more of an ethnic dimension. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7167336.stm">Horror as church burned
Diplomatic push US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UK Foreign Minister David Miliband have issued a joint statement pointing to reports of "serious irregularities" in the vote count.
Aid agencies are warning of a "humanitarian catastrophe" if the crisis is not defused.
African Union chairman John Kufuor is due to meet with Mr Kibaki on Wednesday amid growing international pressure to find a solution to the crisis.
The visit comes as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UK Foreign Minister David Miliband issued a joint statement pointing to reports of "serious irregularities" in the vote count.
"The immediate priority is to combine a sustained call from Kenya's political leaders for the cessation of violence by their followers with an intensive political and legal process that can build a united and peaceful future for Kenya," the statement said."The immediate priority is to combine a sustained call from Kenya's political leaders for the cessation of violence by their followers with an intensive political and legal process that can build a united and peaceful future for Kenya," the statement said.
Fear and looting The BBC's Karen Allen in Kenya says people there now want the international community to step in and resolve the situation.
President Kibaki, who was swiftly sworn in on Sunday following Thursday's vote, said political parties should meet immediately and publicly called for calm. Kenya is a country with 42 tribes and the elections have exposed deep ethnic fault lines, says our correspondent.
But Mr Odinga said he would only hold talks once the re-installed president "publicly owns up that he was not elected". There were reports of several more deaths overnight, with two police officers killed in the western town of Kericho by youths armed with bows and arrows, a police official told AFP news agency.
Commuters travel by foot after police blocked roads to traffic Poll watchdog 'pressured'
Those killed in the church in Eldoret were among hundreds believed to be sheltering there. But the country has been shocked by the deaths of dozens of people in a church that was torched in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret.
The majority of those who died were Kikuyu, the same tribe as Mr Kibaki, and there have been reports of people being targeted on the basis of their ethnicity.
Witnesses said that a mob angry about the election result doused the church with petrol before setting it alight.Witnesses said that a mob angry about the election result doused the church with petrol before setting it alight.
Residents of the town who have contacted the BBC have described an atmosphere of fear, with people sheltering as homes are set on fire and gangs of armed youths loot properties. Commuters travel by foot after police blocked roads to traffic
One woman told the BBC that she was locked in an orphanage in Eldoret. Abbass Gullet, secretary general for Kenya's Red Cross, told AFP that only those from "the right ethnic group" had been allowed through barricades in some places.
"The older children have been told that they need to arm themselves just in case we might have to protect ourselves, so they've got batons, they've got anything they can find," she said. Aid agencies are warning of a "humanitarian catastrophe" if the crisis is not defused.
Also on Tuesday there were reports of new street battles breaking out in Nairobi slums.
The Kenyan Red Cross has said that in the Rift Valley, at least 70,000 people have been displaced as a result of the unrest, describing it as "a national disaster".The Kenyan Red Cross has said that in the Rift Valley, at least 70,000 people have been displaced as a result of the unrest, describing it as "a national disaster".
Ugandan officials also reported hundreds of Kikuyu tribes people crossing the border from Kenya, AFP reported.Ugandan officials also reported hundreds of Kikuyu tribes people crossing the border from Kenya, AFP reported.
Commission 'pressured'
Mr Kibaki was declared the winner on Sunday after a controversial three-day counting process.Mr Kibaki was declared the winner on Sunday after a controversial three-day counting process.
On Tuesday, election commission chairman Samuel Kivuitu said he had been under pressure to make the election results public from Mr Kibaki's Party of National Unity and a minor opposition party that recently split from Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement.On Tuesday, election commission chairman Samuel Kivuitu said he had been under pressure to make the election results public from Mr Kibaki's Party of National Unity and a minor opposition party that recently split from Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement.
"I was being pushed by PNU and ODM-Kenya to announce the results immediately," he said.
EU observers said the poll "fell short of international standards", and four Kenyan election commissioners have joined calls for an independent judicial body to re-examine the process.EU observers said the poll "fell short of international standards", and four Kenyan election commissioners have joined calls for an independent judicial body to re-examine the process.
But Finance Minister Amos Kimunya denied the fraud allegations. But Finance Minister Amos Kimunya denied electoral fraud allegations in a BBC interview.
He told the BBC: "I have no evidence that they were rigged. Anyone who has any information that they were rigged in one constituency or the other, or overall, let them subject it through the legal process."
Are you in Kenya? What is the situation like where you are? Send us your comments by filling out the form below.Are you in Kenya? What is the situation like where you are? Send us your comments by filling out the form below.
You can send us your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video You can also text your images to 00 44 7725 100 100You can send us your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video You can also text your images to 00 44 7725 100 100
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name
 Name