Kenya's opposition has called off a banned rally after demonstrators fought pitched battles in the street with police. The violence began soon after dawn when water cannon was used to disperse hundreds of people trying to block a main road in the capital, Nairobi.

The demonstrators said they had come in peace, to save their country. Their leader, Raila Odinga, who lost the disputed presidential election last week, had called for a million people to rally.

But they were met with tear gas and batons, with the government forces under orders to stop the gathering at all costs. The opposition said it didn't want any more lives lost and would try again next week.

Shops had started to open again in Nairobi, but today the shutters were back down, fearing the government backlash.