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		A Kenyan demonstrator bleeds after being beaten by police in Nairobi Wednesday.
		By Khalil Senosi, AP

Police shot dead a man suspected of looting a cell phone store, Nairobi's police chief King'ori Mwangi said. He said that looters were using unrest to rob business that closed early in central Nairobi. (Related video: Police clash with protestors)

Wednesday's confrontations — the second day of three planned days of protests — began as skirmishes but escalated into violent clashes.

Police used truncheons and tear gas to keep protesters away from the National Assembly building in downtown Nairobi. In another part of the capital, they fired tear gas at stone-throwing students.

An Associated Press photographer saw one demonstrator beaten by police and left unconscious on the street before passers-by took him to the hospital. The photographer saw police detain five protesters.

Police spokesman Jaspher Ombati said 20 demonstrators were arrested.

"The scores of people were participating in an illegal procession as they had not notified the police as required by the law," Ombati said.

"The demonstrators turned riotous and started looting and destroying property. This forced the police to move in to disperse them with a view to restore normalcy." He said.

The demonstrators, taking part in the second of three days of planned protests, are opposed to plans spearheaded by allies of President Mwai Kibaki to change the draft constitution in an effort to retain the president's powers and weaken those of a proposed prime minister.

Lawmakers on Wednesday began debating the changes and other parts of the constitution, before a constitutional referendum tentatively scheduled before year's end.

Wednesday's newspapers reported that similar protests took place in two other major towns Tuesday and dozens of people were injured in skirmishes with the police.