|
Kenyans injured in rioting
14/12/2003 11:35 - (SA)
Nairobi - At least 40 people have been injured in riots by hundreds of Muslims in Garissa in north-eastern Kenya against the presence of US marines on a humanitarian mission.
"Several hundred people have demonstrated against the presence of US marines, who were in Kenya to offer free medical and veterinary services," Garissa district police chief Remmy Ngugi said.
"Placard-waving protestors burnt tyres on main roads and torched American flags and an effigy of US President George Bush at a playground before accosting the marines, but police managed to bring the situation under control," Ngugi said.
Kenyan media reported that at least 40 people, including a government official, were injured after riot police engaged the demonstrators in running street battles, amid claims that the marines were offering free services as a pretext to pursue terrorists.
The injured were taken to Garissa provincial hospital where most were treated and discharged, newspapers said.
Ngugi said the protestors were provoked after local MP Adden Sugow told a rally that Americans were not sincere in their mission in the predominantly Muslim Somali-inhabited town close to the border with Somalia.
Ngugi said Muslim leaders were "against the US marines' humanitarian mission, despite having held a meeting with the mission commander before the operation started."
The marines form part part of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) that fights terrorism from its headquarters in Djibouti.
Discussion Forums - Have your say about this article
View our various picture galleries
|
News
