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Odinga denies 'ethnic cleansing' Odinga denies 'ethnic cleansing'
(about 1 hour later)
Kenya's opposition leader says his supporters have not engaged in ethnic cleansing and blamed government forces for targeting certain communities. Kenya's opposition leader has denied his supporters have engaged in ethnic cleansing, blaming government forces for targeting certain communities.
Raila Odinga was responding to accusations by Justice Minister Martha Karua that his group had planned to carry out systematic ethnic cleansing.Raila Odinga was responding to accusations by Justice Minister Martha Karua that his group had planned to carry out systematic ethnic cleansing.
Mr Odinga told the BBC his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had done all it could to prevent such violence.Mr Odinga told the BBC his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had done all it could to prevent such violence.
He was speaking on the first of three days of protests over a disputed poll.He was speaking on the first of three days of protests over a disputed poll.
Police fired live rounds and tear gas in clashes with opposition party supporters who were defying a protest ban.Police fired live rounds and tear gas in clashes with opposition party supporters who were defying a protest ban.
Clashes broke out Nairobi, Mombasa and in western Kenya, where at least two people were killed.Clashes broke out Nairobi, Mombasa and in western Kenya, where at least two people were killed.
'Outrageous' 'Mayhem'
President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the 27 December poll, but the results were rejected by the opposition and called into question by international observers.President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the 27 December poll, but the results were rejected by the opposition and called into question by international observers.
More than 600 people have died in unrest since, and another quarter of a million have been driven from their homes.More than 600 people have died in unrest since, and another quarter of a million have been driven from their homes.
The police are well prepared to counter any groups attempting to disrupt peace Eric Kiraithe,police spokesman href="/1/hi/world/africa/7192241.stm">Eyewitnesses: Kenya rallies class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7192685.stm">Cat and mouse with police class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7192126.stm">In pictures: Kenya protests What we have been seeing is basically a response by members of the public to the police action Raila OdingaOpposition leader href="/1/hi/world/africa/7175694.stm">Kenya's dubious election class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7189291.stm">Battle of the blogs class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7190263.stm">Slum wary of ethnic violence
In an interview last week with the BBC's HARDtalk programme, Ms Karua said the government had suspected that Mr Odinga's ODM party was "planning mayhem if they lost".In an interview last week with the BBC's HARDtalk programme, Ms Karua said the government had suspected that Mr Odinga's ODM party was "planning mayhem if they lost".
But she said they had not expected "the magnitude [of the violence] and for it to be ethnic cleansing".But she said they had not expected "the magnitude [of the violence] and for it to be ethnic cleansing".
Asked whether she was accusing the ODM leadership of "calculatedly planned ethnic cleansing", she answered: "Absolutely yes, that's what I'm saying categorically."Asked whether she was accusing the ODM leadership of "calculatedly planned ethnic cleansing", she answered: "Absolutely yes, that's what I'm saying categorically."
In his interview on Wednesday, also with the BBC's HARDtalk, Mr Odinga called these allegations "outrageous".In his interview on Wednesday, also with the BBC's HARDtalk, Mr Odinga called these allegations "outrageous".
"She knows where the truth lies - that all that we are having is as a result of the order that the government has given to the police: to shoot particularly members of certain ethnic communities."She knows where the truth lies - that all that we are having is as a result of the order that the government has given to the police: to shoot particularly members of certain ethnic communities.
"So what we have been seeing is basically a response by members of the public to the police action, which has resulted in the killing of very many people who are members of other communities than the one that she comes from," Mr Odinga said."So what we have been seeing is basically a response by members of the public to the police action, which has resulted in the killing of very many people who are members of other communities than the one that she comes from," Mr Odinga said.
Fresh violenceFresh violence
Mr Odinga said his party had condemned one of the most notorious incidents - the torching of a church in the western town of Eldoret on 1 January - but he said the attack on the church had been an attempt to avenge earlier attacks. Mr Odinga said his party had condemned one of the most notorious incidents - the torching of a church in the western town of Eldoret on 1 January.
name="goback"> class="bodl" href="#map"> See an aerial map of Nairobi and the city centre class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7192241.stm">Eyewitnesses: Kenya rallies class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7192685.stm">Cat and mouse with police class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7192126.stm">In pictures: Kenya protests
But he said the attack on the church had been an attempt to avenge earlier attacks.
Pressed on whether the ODM leadership could have done more to prevent inter-ethnic violence, he said: "No, we could not have done more than we've done ourselves."Pressed on whether the ODM leadership could have done more to prevent inter-ethnic violence, he said: "No, we could not have done more than we've done ourselves."
Mr Odinga was himself caught up in clashes at the protests on Wednesday, when he tried to reach a rally at Nairobi's Uhuru Park but was forced back by tear gas. The violence continued on Wednesday, the first of three days of protest called by the ODM.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7175694.stm">Kenya's dubious election class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7189291.stm">Battle of the blogs class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7190263.stm">Slum wary of ethnic violence Mr Odinga was himself caught up in the clashes, when he tried to reach a rally at Nairobi's Uhuru Park but was forced back by tear gas.
As the tension heightened at the entrance to the park, anti-riot police, some riding on horses, charged at journalists and lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse them. name="goback"> class="bodl" href="#map"> See an aerial map of Nairobi and the city centre
Residents in the city's Kibera slum told the BBC three people were being treated for gunshot wounds. Residents in the city's Kibera slum told the BBC three people were being treated for gunshot wounds, but police denied firing at crowds in the area.
Police denied firing at crowds in the area. Meanwhile, in Mr Odinga's hometown of Kisumu, the BBC's Karen Allen saw two bodies being carried away after police opened fire on some 300 people trying to march into the town centre.
Mr Odinga said: "The massive deployment of security forces will not intimidate the people of Kenya from demanding their right, it is an indication that the government is terrified of its own people." Other clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa and Eldoret.
'People power' UN appeal
Meanwhile, in Mr Odinga's hometown of Kisumu, the BBC's Karen Allen says some 300 people were trying to march into the town centre when police opened fire. Mr Odinga called the deployment of security forces "an indication that the government is terrified of its own people".
Protesters carried a coffin to symbolise the "death of democracy"
Our correspondent says two bodies were carried away from the scene of the protest.
In the port city of Mombasa, there have also been running battles between protesters and police and several people have been injured.
In Eldoret protesters erected roadblocks on the outskirts of town.
As the protests began, Mr Odinga said through "peaceful people power" and international mediation, his party would ensure that the political stalemate in the country was resolved.
Attempts at outside mediation between Mr Odinga and President Kibaki have failed with the latest, a bid by Kofi Annan, postponed when the former United Nations chief fell ill.Attempts at outside mediation between Mr Odinga and President Kibaki have failed with the latest, a bid by Kofi Annan, postponed when the former United Nations chief fell ill.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has launched a humanitarian appeal to raise $35m to help Kenyans affected by the violence.
According to John Holmes, the UN's emergency relief co-ordinator, said the money was needed to provide food and shelter.
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