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Police clash with demonstrators
BY: Daniel Korir DATE: Sunday, July 04, 2004
Police Saturday clashed with about 500 demonstrators in Nairobi, who had vowed to defy a ban against a public rally calling for a speedy conclusion to a long constitutional review process.
Riot police armed with batons and several others on horseback used teargas canisters and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators, including lawmakers, who tried to force their way into Uhuru Park, center town, the venue of the rally.
Police choppers were also seen patrolling the skies of the capital. Police spokesman Jasper Ombati said police would use necessary force to avert violence.
Motorists and movement of people was restricted to the venue. Roads were also blocked to avert skirmishes.
Friday, Katiba Watch, a lobby group made up of former delegates to a national constitutional conference, which organised the rally, vowed to defy a police ban and go ahead with the rally.
Mr. Ombati said hundreds of police officers had been deployed in the capital to prevent the rally from going ahead and maintain public order.
Members of Katiba Watch meanwhile held a meeting in a hotel adjacent to Uhuru Park to plan the way forward, the rally's co-ordinator Martin Shikuku said they were strategising on how to enter Uhuru Park, of which they where barred by the police
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