Kenya riots claim four lives

Authorities in Kenyan have heightened security in the coastal city of Mombasa after riots sparked by the killing of Muslim preachers left at least four people dead and seven injured.

The deceased succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment in hospital in the tourism resort city, Xinhua reported citing Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS).

The death toll rose as tension remained high in the Majengo and Kisauni areas as youths were protesting the killing of Sheikh Ibrahim Ismael and three others by unknown gunmen Thursday.

Police spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki denied that security officers were behind the murder of the influential Muslim clerics whose murders sparked running battles with the police for the better part of Friday afternoon.

The youths started demonstrating soon after the lunchtime prayers and torched the Salvation Army Church in Majengo in the ensuing riots, forcing businesses to close down amid heavy police presence in major installation areas. The inferno was later contained by the fire brigade.

The youth protesters engaged police in running battles, stoning cars, lighting bonfires as they were repulsed by Kenyan police who used teargas canisters at the protesters in bid to disperse crowds who have vowed to continue with their demonstrations on Saturday.

Kenyan police have vowed to step up security surveillance across the country following intelligence reports that Somali militants who claimed responsibility for attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi, were planning to carry out retaliatory terror attacks in the East African nation.

Mombasa county police chief Joseph Kitur said over 30 people have been arrested.

"So far we have arrested about 30 suspects who are now in the police custody. We are still continuing to make more arrests. The police were not involved in the Thursday killing of four Muslim preachers and I don't know why these people were protesting," he said.

Mombasa, the country's second largest city and a major tourist spot is one of various cities targeted by a series of grenade attacks and abduction of foreigners in recent months.