As talks to end the disputed political crisis resumed the Kenyan red cross head Abbas Gullet told a news conference in Nairobi that the death toll had surpassed 1,000 with more than 350,000 displaced.
The violence that kicked off after the disagreement between Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki has escalated into the re-opening of decades old tribal divisions with Mwai's tribe, the Kikuyu being targeted for dominating politics and the economy.
The peace talks were faced with yet another blow when the South African businessman Cyril Ramaphosa who was supposed to join the mediation team was rejected by the Kenyan government under the pretext that he has business dealings with ODM's leader Raila Odinga.
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http://ugandaonline.net/death_toll_in_kenya_surpasses_1_000The U.S. Peace Corps said Tuesday it was pulling its remaining volunteers from Kenya following weeks of violence over a disputed election.
While no Peace Corps volunteers have been targeted in the fighting, the Washington-based group has decided to temporarily suspend its operations, said spokeswoman Amanda Beck. She said the remaining 58 volunteers were being pulled out. Another 86 volunteers were sent home in January after the violence first erupted.
"There comes a point when the volunteers are just distracted from doing their jobs," Beck said. "Our hope is that we can return very soon."
Protests since the Dec. 27 election have degenerated into ethnic clashes, with much of the anger aimed at President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe, long resented for dominating politics and the economy. At least 1,000 people have died and 300,000 have been chased to refugee camps. Ugandan authorities said 12,000 Kenyan refugees had crossed the border since the crisis began.
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