January 13, 2008

Kenyan response amounts to 'shoot to kill' policy

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan police have killed and wounded dozens of protesters, an international human rights group said Sunday, warning that the opposition call for mass rallies this week raises concerns of new clashes that could lead to more deaths and injuries.

Human Rights Watch, based in Washington, D.C., said observers and even officers have described the police response to demonstrations in Kenya's deadly dispute over presidential election results as an unofficial "shoot to kill" policy.

Kenya's opposition called Friday for protests in 28 locations across the East African country in defiance of a government ban on demonstrations, following the failure of days of international mediation to break a deadlock between President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, who came in second after a tally that foreign observers say was rigged.

The opposition Orange Democratic Movement also urged the international community to impose targeted sanctions against the government of Kibaki, who was hastily declared winner of elections that international observers say had a rigged vote count.

More than 500 people have been killed in clashes with police and ethnic violence since the Dec. 27 election.

"Kenyan police in several cities have used live ammunition to disperse protesters and disperse looters, killing and wounding dozens," Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

More is available at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-01-13-kenya-police_N.htm?csp=34

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