Tear gas fired on Kenya marchers

Kenyan police have fired tear gas and water cannon against protesters. The protesters were trying to attend a banned rally against the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki. Tear gas fired on Kenya marchers The Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has called for a million people to gather in Nairobi's Uhuru Park. Odinga told the BBC the rally was a "defining moment" for Kenya. Meanwhile Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has become the first African leader to congratulate President Kibaki on his disputed re-election. Odinga's party has boycotted crisis talks with Mr Kibaki claiming votes were rigged in the December 27 presidential election. Security forces surrounded Uhuru (Freedom) Park on Thursday morning to keep away demonstrators. Wearing white scarves and singing Kenya's national anthem, protesters from the Kibera slum marched to within about a mile of Nairobi's city center when they were stopped by police. Riot police are blocking other opposition supporters trying to leave the slum but the crowds are cheering and vowing to attend the planned event. It is unlikely that anywhere near a million people will be able to attend any rally but few believe the day will pass without more violence. More than 300 people have been killed and at least 70,000 driven from their homes across Kenya since Sunday. Odinga vowed to press ahead with the rally, saying it would send a peaceful message to opposition supporters. He told the BBC: "It is a defining moment for the country because, as you can see, the people of this country are not willing to take this just lying down. "The people want to see our democracy strengthened and expanded, so that the democratic space is [not] squeezed by this government." But Vice-President Moody Awori urged Odinga to accept defeat and call off the protest. "I plead with you my friend Raila: Overcome your anger, your bitterness and all negative emotions for the sake of our country which you very much want to lead," he said in a public appeal. Supporters of Odinga and President Kibaki have accused each other of genocide and ethnic cleansing in the post-poll violence. Kibaki invited all newly elected members of parliament to an urgent meeting at state house on Wednesday. But instead of attending, Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement MPs held a news conference to again urge Mr Kibaki to leave office. African Union chairman, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, had been expected to visit Nairobi on Thursday but his arrival looked unlikely after Kenya's finance minister said there was no need for international mediation. Samuel Kivuitu, head of Kenya's election commission, has told the BBC he could not say for sure if Kibaki had won fairly until he was shown the original records. Supporters of the Orange Democratic Movement holding posters in support of opposition leader Raila Odinga (Beta)

Tear gas fired on Kenya marchers

The Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has called for a million people to gather in Nairobi's Uhuru Park.

Odinga told the BBC the rally was a "defining moment" for Kenya.

Meanwhile Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has become the first African leader to congratulate President Kibaki on his disputed re-election.

Odinga's party has boycotted crisis talks with Mr Kibaki claiming votes were rigged in the December 27 presidential election.

Security forces surrounded Uhuru (Freedom) Park on Thursday morning to keep away demonstrators.

Wearing white scarves and singing Kenya's national anthem, protesters from the Kibera slum marched to within about a mile of Nairobi's city center when they were stopped by police.

Riot police are blocking other opposition supporters trying to leave the slum but the crowds are cheering and vowing to attend the planned event.

It is unlikely that anywhere near a million people will be able to attend any rally but few believe the day will pass without more violence.

More than 300 people have been killed and at least 70,000 driven from their homes across Kenya since Sunday.

Odinga vowed to press ahead with the rally, saying it would send a peaceful message to opposition supporters.

He told the BBC: "It is a defining moment for the country because, as you can see, the people of this country are not willing to take this just lying down.

"The people want to see our democracy strengthened and expanded, so that the democratic space is [not] squeezed by this government."

But Vice-President Moody Awori urged Odinga to accept defeat and call off the protest.

"I plead with you my friend Raila: Overcome your anger, your bitterness and all negative emotions for the sake of our country which you very much want to lead," he said in a public appeal.

Supporters of Odinga and President Kibaki have accused each other of genocide and ethnic cleansing in the post-poll violence.

Kibaki invited all newly elected members of parliament to an urgent meeting at state house on Wednesday.

But instead of attending, Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement MPs held a news conference to again urge Mr Kibaki to leave office.

African Union chairman, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, had been expected to visit Nairobi on Thursday but his arrival looked unlikely after Kenya's finance minister said there was no need for international mediation.

Samuel Kivuitu, head of Kenya's election commission, has told the BBC he could not say for sure if Kibaki had won fairly until he was shown the original records.