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Kenyan Opposition Calls for Another Demonstration Thursday

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Kenya's opposition has called for another demonstration, following three days of bloody protests against last month's national election that critics say was fraudulent.

Opposition party chairman Henry Kosgey told reporters in Nairobi Saturday the party will resume its peaceful rallies on Thursday. He said the opposition will use all available means to bring down President Mwai Kibaki.

Saturday's announcement is a reversal from Friday when the opposition said it would end the protests in favor of economic boycotts.

At least 23 people have died since opposition leader Raila Odinga started nationwide demonstrations last week, provoking a violent police crackdown.

African leaders have been shuttling between the feuding factions to try to resolve the growing crisis.

On Friday, the U.S. State Department called on Kenya's political leadership to find a peaceful solution to the situation.

About 650 people have died since the disputed election on December 27.

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is scheduled to arrive in Nairobi Tuesday to attempt to defuse the crisis.

In other news from Kenya, the U.N.'s refugee agency says it has suspended plans to deliver relief supplies to thousands of displaced Kenyans because of the protests and violence in the capital. The agency flew tons of humanitarian supplies from Dubai to Nairobi Friday, but says it is not able to deliver the aid because of the unrest.

An estimated 200,000 Kenyans have been displaced because of the violence. The U.N. Children's Fund estimates about half of those are children.

U.N. officials say the agency will resume the aid operation as soon as possible, but that it is not clear when that will be.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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