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Kenyan Opposition Calls for
Another Demonstration Thursday
By VOA News
19 January 2008
Kenya's opposition has called for another demonstration, following
three days of bloody protests against last month's national
election that critics say was fraudulent.
Opposition party chairman Henry Kosgey told reporters in Nairobi
Saturday the party will resume its peaceful rallies on Thursday.
He said the opposition will use all available means to bring down
President Mwai Kibaki.
Saturday's announcement is a reversal from Friday when the
opposition said it would end the protests in favor of economic
boycotts.
Kenyan riot police charge through
tear gas at Orange Democratic Movement followers during
protests in Kibera slums, Nairobi, 18 Jan 08 |
At least 23 people have died
since opposition leader Raila Odinga started nationwide
demonstrations last week, provoking a violent police
crackdown.
African leaders have been shuttling between the feuding
factions to try to resolve the growing crisis.
On Friday, the U.S. State Department called on Kenya's
political leadership to find a peaceful solution to the
situation.
About 650 people have died since the disputed election on
December 27.
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Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi
Annan is scheduled to arrive in Nairobi Tuesday to attempt to
defuse the crisis.
In other news from Kenya, the U.N.'s refugee agency says it has
suspended plans to deliver relief supplies to thousands of
displaced Kenyans because of the protests and violence in the
capital. The agency flew tons of humanitarian supplies from Dubai
to Nairobi Friday, but says it is not able to deliver the aid
because of the unrest.
An estimated 200,000 Kenyans have been displaced because of the
violence. The U.N. Children's Fund estimates about half of those
are children.
U.N. officials say the agency will resume the aid operation as
soon as possible, but that it is not clear when that will be.
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