Kenya - A Country in Turmoil
COOPER: You're looking at a video there of Kenya, a nation in turmoil. Renewed violence on this, the first of three days of mass protests called by the main opposition party that recently lost a very disputed presidential election there. It's hard to imagine this in a country that, just weeks ago, was considered one of Africa's most stable and prosperous democracies. It also one of America's closest allies in the region, with a growing population of Al Qaeda sympathizers. Tonight up close, a look at the crisis from a CNN reporter who is a native of Kenya and got caught in the crackdown. Here's Zain Verjee.</s>VERJEE (voice-over): The police here on their horses are trying to intimidate journalists, and they're trying to disperse us. The people of Kenya have never seen anything like this before. The country is bitterly divided over a presidential election gone wrong. (on camera) Opposition leaders have been scattered all around Nairobi. What they're tying to do is rush Uhuru Park. (voice-over) More than 600 people have been killed here in the past three weeks, 250,000 driven from their homes. The concern is this U.S. ally could completely destabilize, bringing down all of East Africa with it. (on camera) In Uhuru Park, if you take a look there, what you see is hundreds of police and paramilitary forces. They've just added another truck now, in for reinforcements. They've been firing teargas canisters at both supporters of the opposition, opposition leaders themselves and journalists, as well. They're beginning to make their move, and it's very likely that, from the other side, they will start firing back. Ow, ow! Ow, they hit my back. Hit my back. (voice-over) You never expect to be shot, but when it happens, it's a shock. You don't see it coming. Teargas canisters travel as fast as bullets. The incident left me a little shaken, but luckily nothing more. Literally, a bruising reminder of how quickly my country's unraveling. (on camera) They shot me here in by back. Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It almost hit your head.</s>VERJEE: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you OK?</s>VERJEE: Yes, it's OK. I'm standing. (voice-over) Zain Verjee, CNN, Nairobi.</s>COOPER: Next an I-reporter says he has proof, proof there was a UFO hovering over Texas earlier this week. See his video for yourself next.