Kenyan robbers stab Russian ambassador

NAIROBI, Aug 21 (Reuters) Robbers stabbed Russia's ambassador to Kenya, wounding him slightly, in the latest high-profile crime in the east African country, a Russian diplomat said today.

Valery Egoshkin was returning to the capital after a road trip with his grandson, another embassy official and his child yesterday afternoon when the party was attacked.

Robbers pounced when Egoshkin's driver stopped the car after one of the children became sick some 20 km from Nairobi.

''They (the Russians) came out of the car and two guys came up to them and asked for money and then took out their knives,'' said the diplomat, who did not wish to be named.

He said both the ambassador and the other diplomat were stabbed but he had no other details about the incident.

Egoshkin and his colleague were admitted to Nairobi's plush Aga Khan hospital and were in a stable condition.

''He will return to the embassy after three days in hospital,'' the official told Reuters.

In a statement shown on Russian television, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said his government was in ''constant contact'' with the Kenyan police.

''We demand efforts be undertaken to find and immediately punish the criminals as well as additional measures to ensure the safety of the Russian embassy and its staff,'' Kamynin said.

A Kenyan government spokesman said local police would issue a statement soon.

Armed carjackings, robberies and rapes are common in Kenya.

Last month, gangsters carjacked Kenyan Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi, stealing a gun, cash and mobile phones. Other recent high profile victims include the Danish ambassador.

REUTERS SP RN2021