At least 50 bodies have been found in a burnt church, The Associated Press has reported the Red Cross as saying, as tribal tensions simmered following the contested election of incumbent President Mwai Kibaki.

A local reporter told CNN he counted at least 15 charred bodies, including those of children, at the church and an adjacent field in Kiambaa, about 185 miles (300 km) northwest of Nairobi.

“There was a huge mob, they attacked the church,” said a witness in comments reported by The Associated Press. The person, who asked to remain anonymous in case of reprisals, added: “We counted 15 to 20 bodies.”

The deaths came as opposition supporters fought with police firing tear gas and live ammunition across the country.

The demonstrators are protesting the government’s announcement Sunday that voters had re-elected Kibaki with 51.3 percent of the vote, compared with 48.7 percent for Raila Odinga, the opposition leader.

CNN