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Ugandan opposition leader detained again during protests
Apr 18, 2011, 7:02 GMT
Kampala - Uganda's main opposition leader Kizza Besigye was arrested Monday as he led a 'walk to work' march in protest at high commodity prices, a legislator said.
Besigye, who was the runner-up in February presidential elections, was wounded in the hand last week when police fired tear gas as well as live and rubber bullets to disperse crowds who have been taking part in the regular marches.
An opposition member of parliament, Ibrahim Semuju who said he was himself under arrest, told the German Press Agency dpa by telephone that the retired army colonel-turned politician was being held in police cells in the suburb of Kasangati, north of Kampala.
'The colonel has been arrested and is held at Kasangati police station. Even me, I am under arrest and I am being taken to Jinja Road Police station,' Semuju said.
Besigye had immediately been rushed to hospital after being hit by a rubber bullet during Thursday's clashes. Nearly 50 people were injured and over 200 arrested in the protests, which had spread to three major towns around the country.
President Yoweri Museveni over the weekend warned that he would not tolerate the protests and said that Besigye and other opposition politicians would be arrested if they continued with the demonstrations.
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