OWN CORRESPONDENT, Nairobi | Wednesday 10.30pm.
KENYAN authorities have arrested a number of people in connection with the devastating car bomb attack on the United States embassy in Nairobi, President Daniel arap Moi said on Wednesday.
The announcement followed the declaration by rescue workers that the search for survivors was over.
“A number of persons have been detained in relation to this incident and are providing useful leads into the circumstances surrounding the bomb blast,” Moi said in a statement.
He did not elaborate on how many people had been arrested, or their nationalities.
In Washington a National Security Council spokesperson said that the Clinton administration was aware of Moi’s statement but did not provide more specific information. “We have had outstanding co-operation from both the governments of Kenya and Tanzania,” the spokesperson said. “We have had access and would expect to have access to all of the suspects that have been detained.”
The US government has meanwhile said it is is contemplating starting a fund to help local embassy employees or their families.
“Over the next several weeks we will be coming up with a number of proposals aimed at showing our gratitude for the local employees of our embassies, in both Tanzania and in Kenya,” deputy assistant Secretary of State John Carson said.
At least 258 people are known to have died in the two attacks, while 5000 were injured in Nairobi, and 72 in Dar es Salaam.