Kenya death toll tops 700 as protest rallies loom: police

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

NAIROBI (AFP) — A prominent US-based rights group called on Kenyan authorities Sunday to lift a ban on political rallies ahead of new protests this week, as the death toll from post-election violence topped 700.

Police gave the fresh death toll from violence sparked by December 27 presidential polls after four people died in overnight clashes in the Rift Valley and 100 more bodies were discovered.

Human Rights Watch urged the government to allow rallies led by opposition leader Raila Odinga, which are due to start Wednesday to protest alleged vote-rigging that led to President Mwai Kibaki winning a second five-year term.

Police have outlawed any public meetings since bloody clashes erupted after Kibaki's victory was declared and many feared a showdown with...