Audio By Carbonatix
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has accused the government and the police of turning the country into "killing fields of the innocent".
His Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said seven people were shot dead in Nairobi on the second day of protests against elections it says were rigged.
Police denied Mr Odinga's claim that they were "on a killing spree" and said they were acting "with restraint".
EU politicians have meanwhile urged it to cut aid to Kenya's government.
Mr Odinga said: "The government and the police have turned this country into killing fields of the innocent, executing at will in an unprecedented bloodlust that began long before elections took place."
He said the government had "issued its police force with a shoot-to-kill order. And police officers all over the country have followed that order to the letter."
A police spokesman, Eric Kiraithi, said officers had killed two "criminal" protesters - one in western Kenya and one in Nairobi.
He said police were acting "with restraint", and that protesters were being "used by politicians".
Mr Odinga's claim that seven people had been shot dead in Nairobi's Mathare slum was backed up by residents.
Mr Odinga produced photographs of the dead and said one of them was the driver of an MP.
Other sources said two people were killed in Kisumu, western Kenya, but the claims could not be verified.
Police, who have banned all public demonstrations, fired into the air to disperse protesters and clear barricades in several cities.
Tear gas was fired and protesters beaten in the ODM strongholds of Kisumu and Eldoret in the west.
On the first day of the protests on Wednesday, at least four people were killed.
Kenyan authorities say more than 600 people have died in violence since President Mwai Kibaki was declared the victor of elections held in December.
But Mr Odinga told reporters on Thursday that more than 1,000 people had died.
The government has accused Mr Odinga's group of planning to carry out systematic ethnic cleansing.
Justice Minister Martha Karua said the ODM had been "planning mayhem if they lost".
Recount
The US on Thursday blamed both sides for the violence.
State department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "More than anything else they need to come together for the Kenyan people and for Kenya's future."
Meanwhile, the European Parliament on Thursday unanimously backed a resolution calling for the EU to suspend aid to the Kenyan government.
The EU is due to give some 400m euros (£298m) to Kenya over the next five years.
Mr Odinga said the international community should impose sanctions.
"Sanctions is one way of putting pressure on Mr Kibaki to know that it is not going to be business as usual with the rest of the world, unless and until he agrees to a peaceful resolution to this artificially instigated crisis," he said.
Mr Odinga has demanded a vote recount.
Meanwhile, the UN has launched a $34m (£17.3m) humanitarian appeal for Kenya, to help those affected by the violence following the disputed election.
A quarter of a million people have left their homes and 6,000 have fled to neighbouring Uganda.
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
John Kumah’s widow, Lilian Owusu remarries
8 minutes -
Mastercard boosts Africa acceptance network by 45% in 2025, accelerating the continent’s digital economy
17 minutes -
GNFS to clamp down on traders blocking Fire Hydrants after Cantoments Barracks blaze
29 minutes -
Minority raises concerns over revised lithium agreement
36 minutes -
Developing countries paid more in debt service in 2025 – World Bank
41 minutes -
Education Minister raises concern over prolonged CETAG strike
43 minutes -
MUSIGA Greater Accra names AMISTY GH Discovery Artist of the Year
46 minutes -
Vice President honours Nkrumah’s photographer, Chris Hesse, for safeguarding national memory
51 minutes -
3 arrested for impersonating Speaker, IGP on social media
51 minutes -
BoG to tighten monetary policy in half-year 2026
59 minutes -
Parliament approves GH₵357 billion budget for 2026
1 hour -
MAX and Bolt announce strategic partnership to power electric mobility and vehicle ownership in Ghana
1 hour -
Greater Accra poultry farmers association says it was excluded from gov’t ‘Nkoko nkiti nkiti’ initiative
2 hours -
Michael Adangba survives dawn road crash en route to BolgatangaÂ
2 hours -
Court remands 40-year-old man for alleged murder
2 hours
