Fears of Ethnic Cleansing in Kenya

(30 Jan 08 - RV) The United States told African Union leaders meeting in Ethiopia today that violence in Kenya's Rift Valley is «clear ethnic cleansing» against the country's Kikuyu people.

Washington has also warned that it is reviewing its 540 million dollars in assistance to the east African nation because of the wave of unrest in the wake of disputed elections.

In the capital Nairobi ordinary Kenyans gathered today calling for an immediate end to arbitrary killing which has left over 850 people dead.

Fr Padraig Devine SMA President of National Council for Religious Superiors says the violence has taken the lid off decades-old divisions between communities over land, wealth and power.