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Kenya denounces 'genocide' as toll hits 330
President Mwai Kibakis government accused rival Raila Odingas party of unleashing genocide in Kenya on Wednesday as the death toll from tribal violence over a disputed election passed 330. It is becoming clear that these well-organised acts of genocide and ethnic-cleansing were well-planned, financed and rehearsed by Orange Democratic Movement leaders prior to the general elections, the statement read by Lands Minister Kivutha Kibwana on behalf of his colleagues said. Odingas supporters, drawn mainly from his Luo tribe, have made similar charges against Kibaki, whose Kikuyu have dominated political and business life in East Africas biggest economy. Western powers have called for calm and Britain has urged the African Union and Commonwealth to try to reconcile Kibaki and Odinga whose parties accuse the other of vote-rigging during the Dec 27 election. There are independent reports of serious irregularities in the counting process, said British Foreign Minister David Miliband and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a joint statement. They called for an end to violence and an intensive political and legal process to end the crisis. Posted by: Fred 2008-01-03 |
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