Nairobi: Ethnic fighting killed at least 12 people in Kenya's Rift Valley and uprooted thousands more today, undermining hopes of an end to weeks of unrest.

The violence and a denial by opposition leader Raila Odinga that he would agree to serve as prime minister under President Mwai Kibaki, followed the first meeting between the two rivals since a disputed December 27 election triggered a political crisis.

Nakuru town has been shut down ... Hundreds are injured in hospital, Kenya Red Cross head Abbas Gullet said. About 700 people have died in violence since Kibaki was re-elected in polls observers say were flawed and Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) say were rigged.

The turmoil has also made 250,000 people homeless and damaged one of Africa's most promising economies. Hopes for a solution had grown yesterday after former UN boss Kofi Annan brought Odinga and Kibaki together for their first discussions on how to end the standoff. 

But their smiles and handshake were quickly followed by new accusations, with the opposition angered by Kibaki's reference to himself as the country's duly-elected leader.

Today, Odinga urged the African Union to avoid endorsing Kibaki's re-election at a planned summit in Ethiopia. Fresh violence broke out in the Rift Valley town of Nakuru, where soldiers cleared burning barricades as houses smouldered and the crack of gunshots filled the air.

Terrified residents sought shelter in churches, police stations and at the prison while smoke rose from torched homes in surrounding villages. Local authorities imposed a 7 pm to 7 am curfew, and as dusk fell the streets were deserted.

The fighting had pitted members of Kibaki's Kikuyu ethnic group against Luos and Kalenjins, seen as pro-opposition. A police source said 10 bodies were found in different parts of the town, most with deep cuts.

But the death toll was expected to rise because officers had not yet ventured deep into the Kaptembwa suburb, where clashes started. Media said at least two people had also been killed in nearby Molo town.

Source : UNI