At least 30 people were nursing gunshot wounds in Kisumu as the death toll from Saturday's riots rose to four yesterday.

The day-long violence drew condemnation from leaders with some accusing the police of brutality while a top cleric asked President Kibaki to call a Cabinet meeting to discuss how referendum campaigns should be conducted before November 21.

One more person died yesterday while 29 others were treated and discharged or admitted to the provincial general hospital and the Aga Khan hospital. This followed riots outside Kisumu's Moi stadium where Information minister Raphael Tuju had hosted a Yes campaign rally.

Five of those admitted at Aga Khan Hospital were students of Kisumu Polytechnic. Two of them were expected to be operated on.

The acting Nyanza provincial hospital medical superintendent, Dr Juliana Otieno, said they were treating 25 people who had gunshot wounds.

Two of the eight people admitted died while six will undergo surgery to remove bullets lodged in their bodies.

The Kisumu district hospital medical superintendent, Dr Otieno Obondi, said 12 people earlier admitted to the hospital were referred to New Nyanza General Hospital for surgery.

However, police commissioner Hussein Ali yesterday cleared the police of blame, saying live ammunition was only used in one incident at Kondele Police Post where a mob had attempted to rescue a suspect arrested earlier in the day.

"The law provides for use of lethal force when people try to rescue a person being held in custody or to prevent a suspect from being arrested," he told a news conference in Nairobi.

Mr Tuju and his Lands counterpart Amos Kimunya, who attended the Kisumu rally, condemned the violence and regretted the deaths.

Addressing a press conference in Nairobi, Mr Tuju appealed to his opponents to leave him alone to address rallies in Nyanza Province.

He said: "I put the blood of those who died on the hands of those who organised groups of youths to create mayhem in Kisumu."

He asked: "If what I stand for is so unpopular, why can't they let me address my two or three people? If they are so popular, why attempt to stop the rally?"

Nairobi Catholic archbishop Ndingi Mwana a'Nzeki and Presbyterian presiding bishop the Rev Lawi Imathiu made a passionate call to political leaders and their supporters to canvass for votes without resorting to violence.

"My prayer to them all is conduct yourselves peacefully, there will be winners and losers, how you vote is your choice but this should not divide us, avoid violence because it does not help anybody," Archbishop Ndingi said.

He was speaking at the Holy Family Basilica where he joined the public in voters' civic education.

The Rev Imathiu urged the President to call an emergency meeting of his ministers to discuss the rising violence and how to ensure the remaining rallies were peaceful.

Yesterday, the Banana and Orange crusaders continued with countrywide campaigns ahead of the November 21 referendum to persuade a possible 11.5 million registered voters to reject or accept the proposed Constitution.

Internal Security minister John Michuki led a Banana campaign rally in Nairobi while Vice-President Moody Awori was in his Funyula constituency as other Yes teams canvassed for votes in Mbooni, Kipipiri, Mwea, Laikipia East and Kinango where Tourism minister Morris Dzoro led a group. There was also a rally in Karatina.

Four Cabinet ministers in the Orange group - Mr Raila Odinga, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Mr Ochillo Ayacko and Mr Najib Balala - led their team to campaign in Siaya district.

Before embarking on yesterday's campaign rallies, they visited victims of Saturday's violence at the hospital where they addressed a press conference. They also viewed bodies of those killed at the mortuary.

Others in the team were assistant minister Andrew Ligale and MPs William Ruto, who is also Kanu's secretary general, Philip Okundi, Sammy Ruto, Gor Sunguh, Ken Nyagudi, Ayiecho Olweny, Oburu Odinga, Otieno Kajwang' and Kisumu Mayor Priscah Auma.

They talked to the patients who were writhing in pain as they recounted their experiences.

The leaders appealed to President Kibaki to dismiss Mr Michuki and Justice minister Kiraitu Murungi whom they accused of allowing police to use live ammunition to quell the riots.

Mr Raila Odinga claimed that the fracas was part of a bigger strategy to instil fear among Nyanza people.

"I am ashamed to be serving a Government that does this to its people," Mr Odinga said outside the provincial general hospital mortuary.

He wondered why the police used live bullets in Kisumu whereas it used tear gas when Orange campaigners were attacked by mobs in Wajir, Meru, Nanyuki and Marsabit.

The Orange team, he announced, had set up a committee of lawyers to start judicial proceedings against the Government. The lawyers will first attend the postmortem examinations.

Mr Odinga named the lawyers as Mr Pheroze Nowrojee, Mr James Orengo, Mr Mutula Kilonzo, Mr George Oraro and Mr Otiende Amolo.

They were mandated to take the case to the International Court of Justice.

Mr Odinga asked President Kibaki to visit Kisumu and assess the aftermath of the police action.

"The President ought to come and carry out investigations; he will realise there was nothing calling for the use of live bullets; I condemn in the strongest terms possible the action perpetrated on the people," Mr Odinga said.

Mr Musyoka asked the ICJ (Kenya Chapter) to report the matter to its parent organisation to hold those who caused the deaths responsible.

The incident, he said, heightened his fears that there was a ploy by the Government to delay or cancel the November 21 referendum.

He called for the sacking of Mr Murungi on the basis of his words about brutality last week. Mr Murungi was quoted as having said that, "when it comes to violence, the Government has an advantage because it had the legal monopoly of all instruments of violence".

Mr Ruto challenged the President to issue a statement on the incident.

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