U.N. council demands end to Kenya ethnic violence

By Louis Charbonneau

In its second non-binding statement issued since the violence began over a month ago, the 15-nation council ordered Kenya to "immediately end violence, including ethnically motivated attacks, dismantle armed gangs, improve the humanitarian situation and restore human rights."

Most of the more than 1,000 deaths have come from ethnic killings, adding to fatalities from police clashes with protesters.

The council statement, much more strongly worded than last week's, also expressed "strong concern at the continuing dire humanitarian situation in Kenya and (called) for the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons."

An earlier version of the statement drafted by France and Britain said the council "regrets the abuses in the presidential election noted by international and domestic observers." But this was removed due to Russian objections, diplomats said.

Separately, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, sent a mission to Nairobi on Wednesday to investigate allegations of "grave human rights violations committed in Kenya in the recent weeks," her office said in a statement.

U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes is scheduled to arrive in Kenya on Friday for a 3-day visit to assess the humanitarian situation there, Holmes' office said in a statement.