Wednesday, January 02, 2008

UK ENVOY APPEALS FOR KENYA CALM !

British nationals in Kenya have been told to stay indoors. The UK high commissioner to Kenya has appealed for calm as violence continues after disputed presidential elections.
Adam Wood said the British government was "appalled by the horrific killings" in parts of the east African country.
He called on the country's political leaders to "very act clearly and specifically" to help restore order.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have issued a joint statement calling for an end to the violence.
They pledged to support "diplomatic and political efforts" to restore order and urged Kenya's politicians to put the country's democratic interests first.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Mr Wood said there was "a lot of activity behind the scenes to urge an end to the violence and encourage reconciliation and unity."
He added: "Whatever frustration people may have felt about recent events, there is no excuse for this violence and peace and reconciliation can only be achieved when it stops."
British nationals in Kenya have been advised by the Foreign Office to stay indoors and to exercise extreme caution if they have to travel.
About 350 people have arrived at Gatwick Airport on a flight from the Kenyan city of Mombasa.
One holidaymaker, John Yeomans, 57, from Weybridge, Surrey, was staying at a resort in Shanzu Beach.
He said: "It is an absolute tragedy for the Kenyan people that they have to go through this. There is a considerable terrorist police increase, although Nairobi is where most of the problems are."
Another, Jonathan Berney, told the BBC: "We saw burned out former buildings, bomb attacks. We saw people in large numbers on the streets.
"You could feel the tension there and you kept looking over your shoulder. It's put us off going back to Kenya and we heard other people say the same. It's just a great shame because it's a beautiful country."
Nelson Kelem, who lives in Northampton, spoke of how his family was caught up in the violence.
"My brother was shot in the leg with a live bullet," he told the BBC.
"One of my nephews, too, was attacked with a machete in his upper arm - the right hand - and they also managed to get him to the clinic and he was stitched up. I didn't imagine it would get that close to where we live."

In their statement, Mr Miliband and Ms Rice referred to independent reports of "serious irregularities" in the election counting process.
But they stressed: "The immediate priority is to combine a sustained call from Kenya's political leaders for the cessation of violence by their followers with an intensive political and legal process that can build a united and peaceful future for Kenya."
And they added: "We call on all political leaders to engage in a spirit of compromise that puts the democratic interests of Kenya first... and we pledge the diplomatic and political efforts of our two countries to support reconciliation and national unity at this vital time for Kenya and the region."
The deaths of up to 50 ethnic Kikuyus in a church in the city of Eldoret, has brought the death toll from four days of violence across Kenya to more than 275.
The bloodshed has exposed tribal resentments that have festered for many years.
BBC NEWS REPORT.

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