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Violence mars second term opening of Kenyan president

By DPA

Nairobi : Violence marred the start of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki’s second term Monday, with opposition supporters set to gather in the capital Nairobi to inaugurate defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga and a parallel government in protest against what they allege fraudulent polls.

Security officials have warned that if Odinga and members of his Orange Democratic Movement turn up at downtown Uhuru Park, they would be arrested. `Uhuru’ in Swahili means freedom.

After Kibaki was declared winner Sunday, riots erupted around Nairobi and across the country in protest against what Odinga has termed rigged elections.

The European Union has voiced doubt over the accuracy of the results, which put Kibaki at 4.58 million votes over Odinga’s 4.35 million.

The government imposed a gag on the media, prohibiting them from transmitting any live broadcasts in the name of “public safety.”

The violence, which has killed some 13 people in three days, marks a disturbing change in Kenya, which is seen as a beacon of stability in a troubled region.