(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-09 16:18

NAIROBI - Violent protests broke out in opposition strongholds across Kenya late Tuesday, after Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced part of his cabinet.

People wait in a line for foods distributed by the Kenya Red Cross at a centre in Nairobi's Kibera slums Jan. 8, 2008. Government oficials said turmoil has killed at least 486, causing 255,000 homeless since the Dec. 27 elections. The United Nations warned that the country still faces humanitarian crisis though violence seems appeaseed gradually. [Xinhua]

At least one person was shot by police in Kenya's third largest city of Kisumu after protesters blocked roads and burnt bonfires in a bid to express their anger following President Mwai Kibaki's announcement of the new cabinet, a local TV network, KTN, said.

There were reports that fires had been started and property looted, while police have been firing over the heads of crowds of people on the streets.

President Kibaki named new ministers, just before African Union Chairman and Ghanaian President John Kufuor arrived in Nairobi as part of mediation efforts following disputed elections in Kenya.

Kibaki named Kalonzo Musyoka, former foreign minister in his previous government who came third in last month's presidential election, as vice president but no one from the main opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), was appointed.

Supporters of the ODM in Kisumu, Kericho, Eldoret and Nairobi took to the streets to protest Kibaki's action, saying it has derailed the mediation efforts of Kufuor.

The opposition roundly dismissed the new cabinet, saying they will not recognize it because Kibaki did not win the elections.

"The cabinet is null and void because President Kibaki did not win the election and we shall not recognize it. This clearly demonstrates that Kibaki does not see the potential problem in this country," said William Ruto, a close ally of Odinga.

"We will resist diabolic action by Kibaki. But we will continue with mediation talks chaired by the president of Ghana tomorrow," said Prof. Anyang Nyong'o, ODM's secretary general.

Some 486 people have died while at least 100,000 have been displaced in a wave of clashes across the country, after the opposition said the election had been rigged.

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