U.N. rights investigators condemn Kenya violence

GENEVA (Reuters) - United Nations human rights investigators on Friday condemned ethnic killings in Kenya and urged party leaders to calm their supporters to end the post-election violence.

In a statement, they raised concern over reports that Kenyan security forces had used excessive force against demonstrators and that gang rapes had accompanied the upsurge in violence.

More than 300 people have died in a week of clashes and 100,000 have fled their homes. The crisis blew up following the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki on December 27. Opposition leader Raila Odinga said the vote was rigged.

"We are especially distressed by the tragic loss of human lives, the numerous casualties and destruction of property and infrastructure," the 14 independent U.N. rights experts said.

They condemned the killing of 30 civilians, including women and children, when a mob set fire to a church where they had taken sanctuary in the western town of Eldoret.

"In this regard, we are profoundly alarmed by the reports of incitement to racial hatred and the growing frictions between the different ethnic groups in Kenya," the investigators said.

They called on all political parties to work for "a peaceful and rapid solution to end the violence".

"While we recognize the prerogative and duty of the Kenyan authorities to maintain public order, we are however alarmed by reported instances of use of excessive force by Kenyan security forces against demonstrators and other civilians," they added.

The U.N. investigators reminded authorities in Kenya of their duty to respect international human rights law. They also said massive displacement in the Rift Valley threatened the population's right to food, health and education.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, editing by Matthew Tostevin)

(For more information on humanitarian crises and issues visit www.alertnet.org)