Police in Kenya are rejecting claims made by Human Rights Watch that they used excessive force in responding to post-election violence.

The U.S.-based rights group says Kenyan police killed hundreds of protesters and bystanders in the weeks following Kenya's disputed December presidential election.

But in a statement released Tuesday, Kenyan Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the rights group is wrong to make a blanket accusation that police were partisan or used excessive force.

He said every case reported, including those where police were suspected of criminal or unprofessional acts, was investigated, and that appropriate action was taken.

Kiraithe also called on members of the public to come forward with information about the violence.

The Human Rights Watch report, released Monday, also accused Kenyan politicians, local leaders, and businessmen of organizing attacks on rival ethnic groups.

More than 1,000 people were killed in the violence, and several hundred thousand more were displaced. 

A power-sharing deal between Kenya's ruling party and the opposition has since paved the way for a coalition government, a commission to investigate the violence, and a committee to look at long-standing disputes among ethnic groups.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.