Kenya opposition calls wave of protests

By Wangui Kanina and Alistair Thomson

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's opposition on Friday called three days of nationwide protests next week after mediation failed and the country's post-election crisis worsened.

Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) also called for international sanctions against President Mwai Kibaki, who was re-elected in a disputed December 27 poll, saying world leaders would be irresponsible to trust him with "a single cent".

"We are asking our countrymen and women with whom we feel such great sadness and solidarity to join us in demonstrations countrywide on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week," ODM secretary general Anyang' Nyong'o told reporters.

Odinga's supporters say Kibaki stole the vote, and Nyong'o said Kenyans had every right to protest peacefully.

ODM said demonstrations would be held in nearly 30 places around Kenya, and that it had asked police to provide security for a mass rally on Wednesday in central Nairobi.

Previous protests have triggered riots and vicious clashes between Odinga's supporters and the security forces, adding to a death toll of around 500 since the ballot.

Police have banned all political rallies. As officers in riot gear patrolled parts of the capital on Friday, a government spokesman urged Kenyans to ignore ODM's appeal.

"The leaders calling on you to take to the streets to burn shops and destroy property will not be with you or your family when you have no job anymore," spokesman Alfred Mutua said.