LOC00:47
21:47 GMT
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 31 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday
expressed concern about the outbreak of violence before and after the
announcement of the results of the presidential elections in Kenya yesterday
and urged all political leaders there to resort to dialogue and apply existing
legal procedures to solve their problems, his press office said in a statement.
"The Secretary-General has been closely following the developments in Kenya
since the announcement of the results of the elections. He is concerned about
the ensuing violence and strongly deplores the loss of human lives. He urges
the security forces to show utmost restraint," the statement said.
Over 135 people have been reported killed after hundreds of Kenyans
protested in the streets Mwai Kibaki's re-election as the country's president
for a second term, despite widespread evidence of ballot-rigging, observers
said. .
"The Secretary-General appeals to the population for calm, patience and
respect for law," the statement added.
Ban also called on the political parties and leaders in Kenya to resolve
their differences peacefully through dialogue and by "making full use of the
existing legal mechanisms and procedures." (end)
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