( dpa ) - A third and final day of planned opposition protests was set to begin Friday over disputed Kenyan election results that have triggered widespread violence in the usually peaceful country.
The opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said seven people were killed in demonstrations in Nairobi Thursday, which were mostly limited to its sprawling slums, and that a total of 17 were killed nationwide since the protests began Wednesday.
Tight security has fanned out across Kenya's major cities and towns, with Nairobi's downtown Uhuru Park, where the rally is set to take place, sealed by paramilitary police.
The government has banned the rallies and the police have responded to any gathering of people with teargas, water cannons and in some areas firing live rounds into the crowd.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has vowed not to cease the mass action until the December 27 presidential vote is recounted and President Mwai Kibaki admits he stole the vote, as Odinga claims.
He has not revealed when ODM would stage more protests after Friday.
Kenya was plunged into violence after the polls, with at least 600 people killed in violence that has touched off ethnic tensions. Another 250,000 have been displaced.