NAIROBI, August 19, 2008 (AFP) - Bandits in Kenya on Tuesday killed 11 herdsmen and wounded 11 others during a cattle raid in the country's northern region, police said.

'The raiders were heavily armed. They shot at residents and escaped with animals,' said Francis Sang, a local police commander, adding that the rustlers stole 4,500 animals.

'We are pursuing them but so far no recovery has been made.'

Cattle rustling is common in Kenya's dry north, where rival tribes often carry out deadly raids from each other to re-stock their herd.