Kenya protests due to end
Friday, 18 Jan 2008 10:39
250,000 Kenyans have been displaced by recent violence
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Kenya's opposition movement has announced plans to end its campaign of violent protests.
Instead Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) plans a series of economic boycotts against businesses closely tied with government ministers.
It claims nine people have died in the last two days of protests against the December 27th presidential election, which it says was rigged by incumbent Mwai Kibaki.
"These last three days have been very painful and we have seen a lot of needless deaths and suffering... but today is the last day of the protests and we are now going to move on," ODM spokesman Salim Lone told the Reuters news agency.
Soon after his victory Mr Kibaki packed his cabinet with members of his Kikuyu tribe, an uncompromising move credited with intensifying tensions across Kenya.
At least 600 people are believed to have died as a result of the fighting while 250,000 have been displaced across Kenya.
Police have responded to organised protests with tear gas and live bullets, mostly fired above the heads of demonstrators, and remain committed to keeping order on Kenya's streets.
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told the AFP news agency: "No amount of propaganda will deter the force from executing its legal mandate with a view to providing a secure environment for the full resumption of our country's social and economic activities."