17 die as violence mars Kenya elections
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 4, 2013 10:52AM GMT
Seventeen people have been killed in multiple attacks in Kenya as the county is holding its first general elections since the disputed vote in 2007 that triggered weeks of deadly violence.
The attacks were carried out early on Monday when Kenyans were waiting in long lines to cast ballots for a new president, parliamentarians, governors, senators, councilors and special women’s representatives.
Reports say five Kenyan police officers were also among the casualties that were killed in an attack on a police station near the coastal region of Mombasa.
Six people, including attackers, lost their lives in another assault in Changamwe, a suburb of Mombasa.
In another attack in the town of Kilifi, north of Mombasa, the same number of people was reported killed.
The Kenyan government has sent 400 police officers to the region to beef up security.
The clashes on Monday came as Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, the frontrunners of the presidential election, have vowed to take proper measures against any event similar to the violent incidents that followed the disputed polls in 2007, when more than 1,100 people were killed.
Meanwhile, Kenyatta is due to stand trial at the International Criminal Court over allegations of involvement in orchestrating the violence in 2007. The deputy prime minister denies the allegations.
About 23,000 observers, including 2,600 international monitors, will monitor the elections. Meanwhile, more than 99,000 police officers have been deployed to ensure the vote is peaceful.
More than 14 million Kenyans are eligible to cast their ballots in the elections.
DB/HSN
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