KENYA:Fresh ethnic violence erupted in Kenya's Rift Valley yesterday hours after the country's two main political rivals agreed to work towards peace.
At least 12 people were killed and thousands were forced to flee their homes in clashes that centred on the town of Nakuru.
The violence dashes hopes of a breakthrough in the political deadlock and undermines aid efforts that centred on the town.
Thousands of ethnic Kikuyus - from the same tribe as President Mwai Kibaki - had sought refuge in Nakuru after being attacked in the western Rift Valley.
Abbas Gullet, head of the Kenya Red Cross, said: "Nakuru town has been shut down . . . My staff have carried three dead bodies and hundreds are injured in hospital."
About 700 people have died in four weeks of violence since Mr Kibaki was sworn in as president. International observers say flawed counting and tallying procedures mean it is not clear who won.
The turmoil has made 250,000 people homeless and damaged one of Africa's most important economies.
Gunshots echoed around Nakuru yesterday and hundreds of young men from the Kalenjin tribe burned cars and set up barricades, isolating the town for much of the day. They back opposition leader Raila Odinga.
The attacks forced a steady stream of Kikuyu residents to head for the safety of the capital Nairobi. As the day wore on, Kikuyu gangs began targeting the attackers, threatening revenge for previous killings.
"We have vowed that for every Kikuyu killed in Eldoret, we shall kill two Kalenjins who are living in Nakuru," said Dennis Kariuki, a bus conductor.
Everywhere, families could be seen bundling sacks of clothes into minibuses and strapping ovens or fridges to the backs of cars.
Michael Wanjama, a Kikuyu who has lived in Nakuru all his life, said the attacks had begun at about 9pm on Thursday and continued into the morning.
"We tried to stand up to them but it made no difference," he said. "They were burning houses so we had to leave." Behind him plumes of smoke drifted up into the sky.
His friend, Moses Njoroge, said Mr Odinga's policy of devolution - known as Majimbo - was to blame. He said Kalenjins thought it meant they would be able to claim the Rift Valley for themselves, forcing outsiders to leave.
"They are all coming because of Majimbo," he said. "People like us were born here but now they want us to go back to Central."
As he talked, opposition supporters carrying clubs studded with nails patrolled the entrance to the shanty town where the Kikuyus had once lived.
Mr Odinga and Mr Kibaki held talks for the first time on Wednesday. But hopes of a breakthrough faded rapidly as Mr Kibaki used a statement afterwards to underline his position as the "duly elected president".
Mr Odinga reacted by urging the African Union to avoid endorsing Mr Kibaki's re-election at a planned summit in Ethiopia.
In an interview with Reuters, he ruled out taking a new post of prime minister in Mr Kibaki's government as a compromise solution.
Mr Odinga said the only three acceptable options would be Mr Kibaki's resignation, a vote rerun, or powersharing followed by a new election.
But he said that he was willing to meet Mr Kibaki again.
"I would ask him to desist from making those kind of embarrassing remarks which will definitely undermine the process of mediation," he said.