PIOs in Kenya safe but properties damaged

New Delhi, Jan 2 (UNI) All Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) in Kenya, numbering between 50,000 and 75,000, were safe and unharmed but some of the shops and commercial establishments had been subjected to looting, the government said today.

''All PIOs are safe and unharmed...There have been no reports of any Person of Indian Origin subjected to violence or physical harm. The violence is not directed against the Asian community or Persons of Indian Origin,'' an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said here.

The spokesman said India was actively watching the situation in the country and the High Commissioner to Kenya, P S Randhawa, was in touch with the Indian community leaders.

He said there had been cases of looting but the violence was not targetted against the Indian or the Asian community.

''It is because of their internal problems,'' he added.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports coming in from Kenya said the death toll during the five-day violence had risen to 300.

The violence was the result of the charges that Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki had fraudulently won the elections on December 27.

UNI RB SP KP1952