Kenya anti-terror police accused of abuses

Nairobi - An international human rights group says there is strong evidence that the Kenya anti-terror police unit has carried out a series of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances.

Human Rights Watch said on Monday that research conducted between November and June documented at least 10 cases of unlawful killings and 10 cases of enforced disappearances carried out by the anti-terror police. The rights group says it also documented 11 cases of mistreatment and harassment of terrorism suspects.

Suspects were shot dead in public places, abducted from vehicles and courtrooms, beaten badly during arrest, detained in isolated blocks and denied contact with their families and access to lawyers, the group says.

The counter-terrorism police unit receives significant support and training from the United States and the United Kingdom.