Bloodied Kenyan opposition calls for another day of peaceful rallies

Kenya's opposition party, determined to bring down the government of President Mwai Kibaki, called for another day of "peaceful rallies" across Kenya in defiance of a ban and despite the deaths of more than 20 people in this week's demonstrations. Police took forceful action at rallies Wednesday through Friday protesting the Dec. 27 presidential election, but opposition party chairman Henry Kosgey told reporters on Saturday, "We will use each and every means to bring down Kibaki's government." He called for more rallies on Thursday, to the disapproval of the European Union. "Mass meetings ... can lead to violence," EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel said, after holding what he called "positive" meetings with both Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. He said both sides "appeal to end the violence," and had agreed to recognize mediation efforts by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.