Kenyan vice president calls for peaceful elections

Kenya's vice president on Saturday urged the country to hold peaceful elections in March, after the Red Cross this week revealed that more than 200 people have died in ethnic violence since January, according to dpa. "There is no other alternative, the next elections must be peaceful, free and fair. I call upon all Kenyans to embrace peace as we prepare for the next polls," said Kalonzo Musyoka. "I want to assure Kenyans that never again will people kill and maim each other for political reasons. There will be no bloodshed in this country because of elections," Musyoka told a church gathering, according to The Nation newspaper online. Catherine Ashton, the European Union's top diplomat, is due to hold talks with Kenyan leaders in Nairobi next week.