Tuesday 10 June 2008

KENYA: Catholics to Hold Prayers as State and Opposition Change Tactics NAIROBI, January 18, 2007 (CISA)

-Catholics in over 700 parishes will this Sunday hold special prayers for peace called by the bishops as the political crisis in the country shows no sign of ending.The weekend is expected to be largely peaceful after three days of violent protests by supporters of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) resulted in the death of about 10 people. ODM and civil society groups accused police of shooting at unarmed civilians.On Friday, the last day of the protests, President Mwai Kibaki announced a top-level political committee to lead national peace efforts.The committee, to be headed by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, is composed of Cabinet ministers and the Attorney General.Without giving details, the Presidency said Friday that the committee is meant to “spearhead national political dialogue, national reconciliation and to promote international understanding and good relations on the political problems facing the country following the recently concluded elections.”The Orange Democratic Movement which had called for three days of mass action announced it will spearhead a boycott of companies associated with President Kibaki and his allies. News reports named some of the companies as Equity Bank, Brookside Creameries and City Hoppa bus service.International mediation of the crisis is set to resume with the arrival of the team leader, former UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan. Already former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mukapa and the wife of retired South African president Nelson Mandela, Graca, are in the country.

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