Nairobi
The European Union's (EU) election observer mission to Kenya Tuesday
demanded an independent inquiry into the allegedly rigged poll
results that have ignited riots and violence across the country and
left killed over 150 people.
The EU team, the largest international mission monitoring the Kenyan
polls, released its preliminary findings after the vote, saying the
process was marred by "serious inconsistencies and anomalies" in the
vote tallies, and questioned President Mwai Kibaki's returning to
power.
"It is vital that an independent investigation is swiftly carried
out to verify doubts about the presidential election. The Electoral
Commission of Kenya (ECK) must be transparent in this
investigation," said Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, chief EU observer.
Defeated opposition candidate Raila Odinga has alleged that the
vote, which saw him lose by 230,000 ballots, was rigged. He has
demanded a recount.
The allegations have sparked outrage amongst Odinga supporters and
violence has spread, with armed supporters looting and rioting and
at least 160 people killed, local newspaper the Standard reported
Tuesday.
The EU mission said its observers were given a vote count of 50,000
at one constituency for Kibaki, but the ECK declared a tally of
75,000 when announcing the official result. At least one more
constituency saw a similar discrepancy.
Some EU monitors were turned away at tally stations, with electoral
officers claiming they were "too tired" to continue counting the
presidential ballots.
Others were barred from entering the main counting centre in the
capital Nairobi, a breach of agreement between the EU and the ECK.
The government on Tuesday declared the situation was "now under
control," as rioting and bloodshed continued in pockets around the
country.
But Odinga has vowed not to back down and he and his supporters are
set to inaugurate a parallel cabinet in a mass rally Thursday that
will bring on a heavy police deployment in a downtown park.
The violence has exposed ethnic tensions as Odinga's Luo supporters
and Kibaki's Kikuyu people, who have long wielded the levers of
power in Kenya, have been attacking one another.
A despatch from London said: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
telephoned both Mwai Kibaki and Raila Kibaki over the situation.
He expressed his country's concerns about the conduct of the Kenyan
elections, but strongly urged both to work for unity and
reconciliation.
"All sides should exercise and work for a solution that reflects the
will of the Kenyan people," a statement from Downing Street said.
Britain's Foreign Office has advised people against all but
essential travel to parts of Kenya. Some 7,000 Britons are currently
in the country, mostly for holidays.
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