Violence in Kenya Ahead of Talks

Police fired tear gas Tuesday to disperse dozens of supporters of President Mwai Kibaki, hours before former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was due in Kenya to mediate the deadly dispute over Kibaki's re-election.
"Kibaki is our president!" the supporters shouted in downtown Nairobi before riot police broke up the gathering.

"The tragedy Kenya is now suffering, and the extremely bitter
polarization of Kenyan society, demands that all leaders and
institutions speak in a responsible, respectful and dignified tone,"
Ranneberger said in a statement.

The election has tapped into resentments that resurface regularly at
election time in Kenya. But never before has the anger been so
prolonged or taken so many lives.

As Kibaki's power becomes more entrenched each day, the opposition's
best hope may rest in working out a power-sharing agreement that could
make Odinga prime minister or vice president.

Odinga has called for another "peaceful protest" on Thursday, saying, "let them bring their guns and we will face them."

The protest will take place in defiance of a ban and despite the
deaths of at least 24 people in three days of protests last week — most
blamed on police.

Odinga also has urged supporters to boycott companies owned by
Kibaki allies, including Equity Bank and bus companies CityHoppa and
Kenya Bus. On Monday, the government condemned the economic boycott as
sabotage.