Kenyan govt says no to re-run

2008-01-04 18:25

Nairobi - The Kenyan government on Friday flatly rejected an opposition request for a presidential election re-run within three months, saying the proposal smacked of "blackmail".

"The government will never yield to blackmail. People should stop using violence as blackmail," government spokesperson Alfred Mutua told reporters when queried about the opposition's demand for a fresh election.

On Sunday, the electoral commission declared President Mwai Kibaki the winner of the December 27 election but opposition challenger Raila Odinga rejected the results, arguing they were rigged to re-elect the incumbent.

"If the court orders a re-run, it will be done, the president will accept a court order," Mutua said. "The government is going to operate according to the constitution of Kenya."

But a government official speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity played down the likelihood of a re-run ever taking place.

'This is total nonsense'

"The government is aware that this opposition is trying all means to grab power using the back door and that is why they are calling for new elections. That is totally nonsense and nobody is even giving it the slightest attention," the official told AFP.

The official said: "The elections are over and I do not even think the court will grant leave to anybody who has instigated violence and killed women and children in a church.

"At the moment the president is concentrating on restoring order in the country."

Odinga has repeatedly said he refuses to turn to the courts, arguing that the judiciary is controlled by Kibaki-appointed judges.

Earlier on Friday, Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) demanded a re-run within three months.

"The way forward will involve a transitional arrangement during which proper preparation can be made for a new election ... that will be transparent and democratic," ODM secretary general Anyang Nyongo told reporters.

Punishment

At the press briefing, Mutua said the government would push to punish opposition leaders suspected of organising Tuesday's arson attack a church where at least 35 people - mainly women and children - were killed after they sought refuge there from tribal violence.

"We want to see some people indicted... for crimes against humanity and of genocide because that is what it amounts to. I don't think that any election justifies the burning of children, children and old people in a church," Mutua told reporters.

"It doesn't matter whether you support Raila or Kibaki. A line was crossed here," Mutua said.

Riots, police raids and tribal killings have crippled Kenya for a week and claimed at least 355 lives, according to an AFP tally compiled with police officials, medical sources and mortuary attendants.

The church was in Eldoret, a town which has seen some of the worst violence.

- AFP