Kenyan Prez Kibaki Declared Victor, Sworn In

News sparks riots as late vote count upsets challenger's lead
By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 30, 2007 11:38 AM CST
Kenyan Prez Kibaki Declared Victor, Sworn In
A Kenyan woman holds a Bible as she prays for peace in front of riot police, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007 during riots in the Mathare slum in Nairobi. Kenya's opposition candidate called on President Mwai Kibaki to concede defeat Sunday, accusing him of fraud after a chaotic vote count sparked widespread violence...   (Associated Press)

Kenya today declared President Mwai Kibaki the winner of Thursday's election, igniting riots in Nairobi as protesters accused the Kibaki government of election fraud and demanded a recount, reports the BBC. At least 10 people have been killed. Kibaki was sworn into a second 5-year term immediately after the announcement that he beat opposition leader Raila Odinga by just 230,000 votes.

Odinga had been leading Kibaki since vote counting began, but Kibaki surpassed his rival as later votes were added. In his victory speech, Kibaki asserted the elections were "free and fair" and called upon all the political parties to "accept the verdict of the people." He vowed to establish a "clean hands government." (More Mwai Kibaki stories.)

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