Police shoot dead two, as youth riot
From correspondents in Nairobi
12nov05
TWO people were shot dead and several others injured today when police battled rioting youths in the port city of Mombasa in the increasing foul-tempered violence ahead of this month's constitutional referendum, police and witnesses said.
Police shot the pair when the youths started protesting a decision to ban politicians opposed to the constitution from holding a rally in the city's Likoni suburb, Coast police commander Simon Gatiba said.
"Two people who were shot have died," he said.
Gatiba said the protesters set ablaze at least two houses, including a government office, and two vehicles.
He said at least three people were injured, but witnesses said the figure could be higher.
The riots came amid an increasingly divisive and violent campaign for the November 21 referendum on the controversial draft constitution, which has split President Mwai Kibaki's government and sparked fears of unrest in the east African nation.