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Helicopters fire over Kenya gangs MP's killing sparks Kenyan unrest
(10 minutes later)
Kenyan military helicopters have opened fire above warring ethnic groups in the western city of Naivasha, reports say. There has been further violence in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi, after the shooting dead of an opposition MP.
The incident occurred amid fresh violence around the country after the shooting of an opposition MP. At least four people died as mobs torched houses and blocked roads in the Kibera slum, not far from the shooting.
Mugabe Were, a member of defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga's ODM party, died near his home in the capital, Nairobi. Mugabe Were, from beaten presidential candidate Raila Odinga's ODM party, apparently died in violence triggered by disputed elections last month.
There were also clashes in Nairobi's Kibera slum, where mobs burned tyres and blocked roads. Separately Kenyan army helicopters fired over warring ethnic groups in the western city of Naivasha, reports say.
Government and opposition are due to begin talks to resolve the crisis. Police on the ground had been unable to control a mob said to number thousands of people which was looting and burning in the town, though the crowd dispersed after the shooting.
Government and opposition are due to begin talks to resolve the crisis on Tuesday afternoon.
A UN spokesman said the dialogue process, mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan, would start at 1600 local time (1300 GMT) at a neutral location.A UN spokesman said the dialogue process, mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan, would start at 1600 local time (1300 GMT) at a neutral location.
An ODM spokesman called for calm and restraint following the MP's death.An ODM spokesman called for calm and restraint following the MP's death.
'Shun violence'
Mr Were is the first leading politician to have died amid violence that has gripped Kenya since December's poll.
See where main ethnic groups are distributed in KenyaSee where main ethnic groups are distributed in Kenya
President Mwai Kibaki condemned the killing, but urged Kenyans not to jump to conclusions about who carried it out.
First dead politician
Eyewitnesses in Kibera said houses were on fire near a railway line which divides ethnic groups in the slum.
Four people were killed by machetes and arrows, and another three deaths were suspected.
In other violence:
  • At least one demonstrator is killed as police fire tear gas on about 100 opposition supporters in Kisumu
  • Six vehicles are burnt in the western town of Kakamega
  • Plumes of smoke are seen rising from the lakeside at Naivasha, as crowds apparently loot the homes of people fleeing the violence
Mr Were is the first leading politician to have died amid violence that has gripped Kenya since December's poll.
Two gunmen shot Mr Were as he drove up to the gate of his house in the capital just after midnight, Kenya police spokesman Eric Kiraithe was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying.Two gunmen shot Mr Were as he drove up to the gate of his house in the capital just after midnight, Kenya police spokesman Eric Kiraithe was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying.
This is a new kind of violence but let's call again on people to be peaceful and to only respond to this kind of violence by shunning violence Salim LomeODM spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7212652.stm">'People are killing each other' class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7213211.stm">Kenya's deep rifts class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7213919.stm">Key flashpoints
"We are treating it as a murder but we are not ruling out anything, including political motives. We are urging everyone to remain calm," he said."We are treating it as a murder but we are not ruling out anything, including political motives. We are urging everyone to remain calm," he said.
Mr Were, who represented Nairobi's Embakasai district, won a seat in the 27 December legislative election, which was held at the same time as the presidential vote.Mr Were, who represented Nairobi's Embakasai district, won a seat in the 27 December legislative election, which was held at the same time as the presidential vote.
ODM spokesman Tony Gachoka said: "The current situation makes one suspicious. All fingers will point at the government, and the government will have to show it is not involved."ODM spokesman Tony Gachoka said: "The current situation makes one suspicious. All fingers will point at the government, and the government will have to show it is not involved."
Another ODM spokesman, Salim Lome, called on people "to be peaceful and to only respond to this kind of violence by shunning violence". Another ODM spokesman, Salim Lone, called on people "to be peaceful and to only respond to this kind of violence by shunning violence".
HAVE YOUR SAY Koffi Annan has a lot to achieve, as large swaths of the country are beyond the control of security forces. Kibaki and Raila owe Kenyans an answer. Hope will grant us peace.Ben, NairobiSend us your comments
The appeal came amid reports of opposition supporters pouring onto the streets in several cities.
In the Kibera slum in Nairobi, rival ethnic groups began fighting.
Eyewitnesses said houses were on fire near a railway line which divides ethnic groups in the slum, and there were reports of at least two dead.
Members of President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe have been fighting with Luos and Kalenjins who backed his rival, Mr Odinga, in last month's election.Members of President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe have been fighting with Luos and Kalenjins who backed his rival, Mr Odinga, in last month's election.
International concernInternational concern
Police fired tear gas at Mr Were's compound in Nairobi to disperse protesters outside.Police fired tear gas at Mr Were's compound in Nairobi to disperse protesters outside.
There was also unrest in western Kenya, where police used live bullets to disperse a crowd of about 100 opposition supporters who had gathered in Kisumu in a show of anger at Mr Were's killing, AFP news agency reported. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Koffi Annan has a lot to achieve, as large swaths of the country are beyond the control of security forces. Kibaki and Raila owe Kenyans an answer. Hope will grant us peace.Ben, Nairobi class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=2=4165">Send us your commentsThe protest followed bloodshed in Kisumu and also in Eldoret.
"First they started killing the ordinary people like us, now they are killing our leaders, we won't accept it," demonstrator Justus Othieno told AFP news agency.
'People are killing each other'Kenya's deep riftsKey flashpoints
The protest followed bloodshed in Kisumu and also in Eldoret.
Riots have also been ongoing in the towns of Naivasha and Nakuru in the Rift Valley, where dozens of people have been killed in five days of ethnic violence.Riots have also been ongoing in the towns of Naivasha and Nakuru in the Rift Valley, where dozens of people have been killed in five days of ethnic violence.
Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the lakeside at Naivasha, as crowds apparently looted the homes of people fleeing the violence.
Mr Odinga accuses Mr Kibaki of stealing the vote and has refused to recognise the result.Mr Odinga accuses Mr Kibaki of stealing the vote and has refused to recognise the result.
Analysts warn a cycle of violence is emerging amid the political impasse, where the pattern of attacks is followed by reprisals.Analysts warn a cycle of violence is emerging amid the political impasse, where the pattern of attacks is followed by reprisals.
The former UN secretary general Kofi Annan has been trying to mediate a solution between the two sides.The former UN secretary general Kofi Annan has been trying to mediate a solution between the two sides.
He set Tuesday as a target for Kenya's government and opposition to name negotiators, in the hope that engaging in formal talks might make it possible to quell the violence.He set Tuesday as a target for Kenya's government and opposition to name negotiators, in the hope that engaging in formal talks might make it possible to quell the violence.
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