At least 1 killed, 8 injured in Mombasa riots

At least one protester was shot dead after and eights others injured following chaos which erupted in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa after Muslim youths engaged police in running battles to protest the killing of four people, among them a prominent Muslim cleric. The youths started demonstrating soon after the Friday prayers at Masqud Mosque in Majengo and also torched Salvation Army Church in Majengo. Fire fighters however managed to contain the fire before it spread to adjacent residential areas. Mombasa divisional police commander, Kipkemboi Rop said at least 24 youths have been arrested following the protest as they lit bonfire and barricaded the roads. Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) recorded that at least eight people were injured and rushed to the local hospitals as chaos spread to other parts of Mombasa. "We have managed to restore the situation. We have adequate security personnel and our main aim is to minimize damage of properties," Rop told Xinhua by telephone. Several business premises have been were destroyed in various parts of Mombasa and Kisauni by angry youths. A contingent of security officers were deployed to comb the area and flush after reports emerged that some of the rioters were armed with an Ak-47 rifle. The Muslim cleric killed on Thursday night had been preaching at a mosque in Majengo area where slain controversial cleric Aboud Rogo used to preach before he was killed last year. The four were buried in mass grave in the early hours of Friday at the same cemetery where slain radical Islamic preacher, Aboud Rogo was buried on Aug. 27 last year. Mombasa County Police Commander Robert Kitur has denied that police were behind the alleged execution of the four on Thursday night. He told reporters that police are yet to identify the gunmen who escaped in black Mark vehicle after the shooting. "We urge for cooperation from the members of public about the details of those behind the killing. We have launched investigation into the incident," said Kitur. The killing of Aboud Rogo on Aug. 27, 2012, sparked similar riots in the coastal city, leading to the death of at least 5 people, among them four Kenya police officers, and massive destruction of properties and churches. At least 8 churches were burned during violent demonstrations. Vandalism and looting by demonstrators resulted in extensive damage and immense loss of property at several churches and mosques in the coastal city. The religious leaders then said then that these attacks were indicative of a deep seated hatred towards the churches whose cause is inexplicable. Rogo was accused by the U.S. and the United Nations of supporting Al-Qaida-linked militants in Somalia, forcing the UN Security Council to impose a travel ban and asset freeze on him. Mombasa, the country's second largest city and a major tourist spot is one of various cities targeted by a series of grenade attacks and abduction of foreigners in recent months. The East African nation's coastal towns are the backbone of the country's thriving tourism industry, which has been hit by the fear of terror attacks and the kidnapping of foreigners by Somali pirates from resorts near the border with Somalia.