ODM Calls off Protest… Memorial Service Interrupted

Submitted by dmwebmaster on Feb 23,2009

 

24 Jan 2008 BBC

Kofi Annan and ODM Raila Odinga in NiarobiKofi Annan and ODM Raila Odinga in Niarobi

The leader of Kenya's opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has said he has called off a mass protest planned for Nairobi. Raila Odinga said he was responding to a request by ex-UN chief Kofi Annan. "On the request of the mediation team, we have called off the activities that we had planned to give this mediation the best chance," said ODM MP William Ruto

ODM youths were outraged by a police presence at the Memorial ServiceODM youths were outraged by a police presence at the Memorial Service

Earlier yesterday , wooden coffins of those killed in last week's crackdown on opposition protests had been taken and laid out on the ground for a memorial service and for people to pay their respects. Hundreds of mourners attend to listen to prayers and speeches and Mr Odinga was finishing his speech when tear gas canisters started to fly. Reports say a group of ODM youths were angered by the presence of police at the venue and started pelting their cars with stones and the meeting then descended into chaos.