Kenyan opposition leader arrested

Shortly before voting began in Kenya, police arrested the Islamist preacher and opposition politician, Sheikh Khalid Balala, who had threatened to lead a campaign to disrupt the elections.

Mr Balala and the veteran politician, Kenneth Matiba, alleged that Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi has rigged the election process, and called for comprehensive constitutional reforms before polls were held.

Members of Mr Balala's family said he was detained late on Sunday night in the coastal city of Mombasa, but police have not confirmed this.

Mr Balala returned to Kenya earlier this year after a two-year exile in Germany.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service