Opposition party calls for peaceful rallies in Kenya
Kenya's opposition party called for another day of "peaceful rallies" across Kenya in defiance of a ban and despite 20 deaths in this week's demonstrations.
Police took forceful action at rallies from Wednesday to Friday in protest at the December 27 presidential election, but opposition party chairman Henry Kosgey told reporters: "We will use each and every means to bring down (Mwai) Kibaki's government."
He called for more rallies on Thursday, to the disapproval of the European Union.
"Mass meetings… can lead to violence," EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel said, after holding what he called "positive" meetings with both President Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
He said both sides "appeal to end the violence", and had agreed to recognise mediation efforts by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Five more people died in ethnic clashes yesterday when three ethnic groups - Kalenjin, Kisii and Kikuyu - fought each other with bows and arrows and machetes in villages around the Catholic Kipkelion Monastery in the Rift Valley, some 185 miles northwest of Nairobi.
Police confirmed they had arrived yesterday afternoon and were guarding the monastery, where hundreds of people have sought refuge.
Nearly 200 houses were set ablaze in what appeared to be an old argument about land.
Friday's deaths raised the toll to at least 24 people killed in three days of protests called by the opposition - all but seven deaths blamed on police.
More than 600 people have been killed in Kenya's election violence, according to a government commission.
International mediation continues as former UN chief Mr Annan is expected on Tuesday to head mediation efforts, his office in Geneva said.
Mr Michel, the EU development commissioner, met yesterday with Deputy President Kalonzo Musyoka, and urged him to come to an agreement with the opposition "because the consequence of chaos will be so important and so badly affect the people and the region".
Mr Kibaki has said he wants direct talks with Mr Odinga, while the opposition leader says he will negotiate only through a mediator who can provide an internationally guaranteed agreement.
Mr Odinga had previously supported Mr Kibaki in the 2002 election in return for a promised prime ministership, which failed to materialise.
Several homes in Nairobi's Mathare slum were set ablaze during several hours of running battles between Kenya's Kikuyu and Luo ethnic groups, resident Boniface Shikami said this morning.
President Kibaki belongs to the Kikuyu, Kenya's largest ethnic group, and opposition leader Odinga belongs to the Luo.
Resident David Oromo said the battles continued for several hours throughout the night, and police gunfire could be heard. Emergency services did not report any immediate injuries.
