Kenya church attacks 'kill 15'

Nairobi, 1 Jul – (ANA) - Fifteen people have been killed in attacks on churches in the Kenyan town of Garissa near Somalia, say the Kenyan Red Cross and a medical official. Regional deputy police chief Philip Ndolo said balaclava-clad "goons" attacked the town's Catholic church and the African Inland Church (AIC). A combination of grenades and gunfire was used, police said. Kenya's border region has been tense since it sent troops into Somalia to pursue al-Shabab Islamic militants. Kenya said the operations, launched last October, were designed to bring an end to kidnappings on Kenyan soil and other violence which it blamed on al-Shabab. But since then, al-Shabab has been blamed for a further string of grenade and bomb blasts across Kenya - though it has never admitted to carrying out any such attack on Kenyan territory. "We condemn this act in the strongest terms possible," Mr Ndolo said.The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims also condemned Sunday's church attacks, saying that "all places of worship must be respected", reported the AFP news agency.'Sunday' s attacks took place during morning sermons at the churches in the garrison town.The Provincial Medical Officer for North Eastern Province in Kenya, Mahamad Abey Shekh, said 15 people had been killed. A bout 40 were thought to be wounded, several in serious condition. (ANA)

FA/ANA/1 July 2012--------