Four people were killed in Kenya's capital Nairobi on Thursday after security forces fired shots and teargas to disperse huge crowds at a stadium where the body of deceased opposition leader Raila Odinga was lying in state, local media reported.
Odinga, a major figure for decades in Kenyan politics who was once a political prisoner and ran unsuccessfully for president five times, died on Wednesday aged 80 in India, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
With thousands of his supporters on the streets from early morning, chaos erupted when a huge crowd breached a gate of Nairobi's main stadium, prompting soldiers to fire in the air, a Reuters witness said.
A police source told Reuters that two people were shot dead at the stadium. KTN News and Citizen TV later said the death toll had increased to four, with scores of people injured.
After security forces fired shots, police lobbed tear gas to disperse thousands of mourners, the two broadcasters showed, leaving the stadium deserted.
Earlier in the day, thousands of mourners briefly stormed Nairobi's international airport, interrupting a ceremony for President William Ruto and other officials to receive Odinga's body with military honours.
Kenyan security forces fired in the air and used tear gas to disperse thousands of mourners on Thursday at a stadium where deceased opposition leader Raila Odinga's body was on view.
With Odinga's supporters taking to the streets in his honour, President William Ruto and other officials went to the airport to receive his body with military honours.
But as the coffin was being removed from the plane's cargo, mourners waving twigs and flags - some on motorbikes - overran the airside, interrupting part of the ceremony, according to a Reuters reporter and footage.
The crowd later backed away from the plane, but the chaos prompted a two-hour suspension of airport operations.
Elsewhere, some Odinga supporters climbed on the gates of parliament, where the government had scheduled a public viewing of his body. The venue for that was changed to a Nairobi sports stadium, his party said.
Though mainly known as an opposition figure, Odinga did become prime minister in 2008 and also struck a political pact with Ruto last year in a career of shifting alliances.
He commanded passionate devotion among his Luo tribe, based in western Kenya, many of whom believe he was cheated of the presidency by electoral fraud.
U.S. President Donald Trump purchased at least $82 million in corporate and municipal bonds between late August and early October, including new inves...
A federal jury in California ruled on Friday that Apple must pay $634 million to Masimo, a medical-monitoring technology company, for infringing a pat...
Thousands of climate demonstrators filled the streets of Belém on Saturday, marching loudly and peacefully to demand stronger action to protect the p...
Storm Claudia, which brought violent weather to Portugal, has resulted in the deaths of three people and left dozens injured, authorities reported on ...
A landslide caused by heavy rainfall in Central Java has claimed the lives of 11 people, Indonesia's disaster management agency reported on Saturday. ...
U.S. President Donald Trump purchased at least $82 million in corporate and municipal bonds between late August and early October, including new investments in sectors benefiting from his policies, according to financial disclosures made public on Saturday.
A federal jury in California ruled on Friday that Apple must pay $634 million to Masimo, a medical-monitoring technology company, for infringing a patent related to blood-oxygen reading technology.
Thousands of climate demonstrators filled the streets of Belém on Saturday, marching loudly and peacefully to demand stronger action to protect the planet and to voice frustration at governments and the fossil fuel industry.
Storm Claudia, which brought violent weather to Portugal, has resulted in the deaths of three people and left dozens injured, authorities reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Britain, rescue teams were organising evacuations due to heavy flooding in Wales and England.
Britain’s King Charles III marks his 77th birthday. Unlike his predecessors, King Charles treats his actual birthday, on 14 November, as his main moment of reflection. This year, King Charles visited Wales—a decision that coincides with the overall spirit of his first three years on the throne.
Storm Claudia, which brought violent weather to Portugal, has resulted in the deaths of three people and left dozens injured, authorities reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Britain, rescue teams were organising evacuations due to heavy flooding in Wales and England.
The Azerbaijan embassy in Kyiv was damaged by debris from an Iskander missile during Russia’s overnight attack, which killed four people and injured dozens, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday.
Japan urged China on Saturday to take "appropriate measures" after Beijing issued a warning to its citizens against travelling to Japan, amid an ongoing dispute over Taiwan.
Iran has strongly rejected as “unfounded and irresponsible” a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) about Tehran’s nuclear program and its alleged support of Russia in the war with Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump purchased at least $82 million in corporate and municipal bonds between late August and early October, including new investments in sectors benefiting from his policies, according to financial disclosures made public on Saturday.
Thousands of climate demonstrators filled the streets of Belém on Saturday, marching loudly and peacefully to demand stronger action to protect the planet and to voice frustration at governments and the fossil fuel industry.
Storm Claudia, which brought violent weather to Portugal, has resulted in the deaths of three people and left dozens injured, authorities reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Britain, rescue teams were organising evacuations due to heavy flooding in Wales and England.
A landslide caused by heavy rainfall in Central Java has claimed the lives of 11 people, Indonesia's disaster management agency reported on Saturday. Rescue teams are still searching for a dozen individuals who remain missing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss the situation in Gaza and the wider region, the Kremlin said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment