KENYA

Kenya police will 'shoot to kill' looters

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Kenyan police are under orders to 'shoot to kill' looters, arsonists and people carrying weapons or blocking roads, after the formal launch of crisis talks Tuesday between Kenya's president and opposition leader.

Kenyan police have been ordered to shoot to kill looters, arsonists, people carrying weapons or blocking roads, a commander told AFP Wednesday, in a bid to stem weeks of clashes sparked by disputed elections.
  
"There are four categories of people who will face tough police action: Those looting property, burning houses, carrying offensive weapons, barricading roads," a police commander told AFP, requesting anonymity.
  
"We have orders to shoot to kill these categories of people if they are caught in the acts," the commander added.
  
He said authorities gave the order shortly after the formal launch of crisis talks Tuesday between Kenya's president and opposition leader, led by former UN chief Kofi Annan.
  
It came amid increasing international condemnation of the violence in which almost 1,000 people have died and a quarter million displaced, sparked by the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki on December 30.
  
"Police will henceforth be very forceful on groups of persons carrying out activities that threaten the lives and property of others," police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told AFP.
  
Crisis talks began Tuesday as police reported 22 new deaths across the country, in brutal ethnic clashes and a police crackdown, particularly in strongholds of opposition leader Raila Odinga -- who claims he was robbed of the presidency.

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