Violence continues in Kenya after polls

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 01-03-2008 09:08

Violence continues in Kenya following last weekend's disputed presidential election.

The government and the opposition are accusing each other for the violence.

A riot police officer looks on as people flee the area of ethnic violence in Nairobi January 2, 2008. REUTERS/Stringer

The opposition has also refused the president's calls for dialogue. Liu Yanhua explains.

Gangs are still taking up arms in Kenya there has been no let up with the violence. The death toll is rising after the poll which put President Mwai Kibaki back in power.

More than 3-hundred people have been killed during five days of rioting.

The government has accused rival Raila Odinga's backers of being responsible for an outbreak of tribal violence.

Kivutha Kibwana, Minister for Lands, said, "We have made a point that all the perpetrators of these crimes must be made aware that genocide is a crime against humanity punishable more severely under both Kenyan and international law."

However,Odinga's supporters have made similar charges against Kibaki.

Kibaki has invited all members of the new opposition-dominated parliament to a meeting, to soothe the post-election fury.

His National Unity Party says the electoral commission cannot resolve the crisis alone. It's calling for dialogue with opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenyan Parliamentarian, said, " PNU currently has the executive and ODM has the majority in parliament. How is President Kibaki going to operate without having dialogue with those who have a majority in parliament? Is it possible? It is not. It means we must talk."

But Odinga says he is not interested in negotiating with Kibaki, and has asked for international mediation.

Kibaki was sworn in on Sunday after official election results showed he had narrowly beaten Odinga.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei