Three killed as Kenyan youths clash

At least three people died in clashes between rival tribes in the Kenyan capital today in the latest flare-up of ethnically-motivated…

At least three people died in clashes between rival tribes in the Kenyan capital today in the latest flare-up of ethnically-motivated violence after President Mwai Kibaki's disputed re-election last month.

All of the bodies bore scars of machete attacks.

"I saw three people dead, killed by pangas (machetes), slashed on the head, cuts on the back and a hand chopped off," Samuel Oduor (22) a freelance cameraman, said. He captured footage of one of the bodies but police had collected the others, he said.

Other witnesses confirmed the death toll in clashes between youths from Mr Kibaki's Kikuyu ethnic group and the Luo tribe of opposition challenger Raila Odinga.

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At least 31 people have died in violence since the opposition launched a three-day anti-government demonstration on Wednesday.

The opposition has called for more demonstrations on Thursday despite the police orders to crush rallies.

Police were heavily deployed today in an effort to contain further violence that has tarnished Kenya's image as a stable country in a troubled region, hurt its democratic credentials and damaged investor confidence.

More than 650 people have been killed since Mr Kibaki was sworn into office after a disputed December 27th election the opposition says was rigged and observers said was seriously flawed.