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Ugandan king postpones town rally | Ugandan king postpones town rally |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The king of Uganda's largest ethnic group, the Buganda, has put off a visit to a town in his kingdom, his spokesman has said. | |
It follows two days of riots in the capital, Uganda, in which at least 11 people were killed. | It follows two days of riots in the capital, Uganda, in which at least 11 people were killed. |
The spokesman said the king did not want to see violence spreading to the town, Kayunga. But he stressed the event was postponed, not cancelled. | The spokesman said the king did not want to see violence spreading to the town, Kayunga. But he stressed the event was postponed, not cancelled. |
The move defuses the tension for now, says the BBC's Peter Greste. | The move defuses the tension for now, says the BBC's Peter Greste. |
Our correspondent - reporting from neighbouring Kenya - says although Kampala is now calm, the police are maintaining a high profile, particularly in neighbourhoods that saw some of the worst violence. | Our correspondent - reporting from neighbouring Kenya - says although Kampala is now calm, the police are maintaining a high profile, particularly in neighbourhoods that saw some of the worst violence. |
'Lynched' | 'Lynched' |
The spokesman for King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II said the postponement of Saturday's planned youth rally would allow time for talks with the central government. | The spokesman for King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II said the postponement of Saturday's planned youth rally would allow time for talks with the central government. |
Armed police are out in force in parts of the capital | Armed police are out in force in parts of the capital |
He said they would find a way to hold the event in a "peaceful and secure" environment. | He said they would find a way to hold the event in a "peaceful and secure" environment. |
On Thursday and Friday, the king's supporters set up barricades, looted shops and fought running battles with police. | On Thursday and Friday, the king's supporters set up barricades, looted shops and fought running battles with police. |
At least 11 people are now thought to have been killed, the director of the main hospital in the city, Iga Matovu, told Agence France Presse news agency on Saturday. | At least 11 people are now thought to have been killed, the director of the main hospital in the city, Iga Matovu, told Agence France Presse news agency on Saturday. |
He said some had been killed by bullets and others appeared to have been lynched. | He said some had been killed by bullets and others appeared to have been lynched. |
The protests happened when the government - citing security risks - banned the king from travelling to Kayunga, which says it has seceded from his kingdom. | The protests happened when the government - citing security risks - banned the king from travelling to Kayunga, which says it has seceded from his kingdom. |
There have been reports that police opened fire on rioters. | There have been reports that police opened fire on rioters. |
A Ugandan government spokesman, Fred Opolot, told the BBC there would be a full investigation, but that he believed the police had behaved "absolutely professionally". | A Ugandan government spokesman, Fred Opolot, told the BBC there would be a full investigation, but that he believed the police had behaved "absolutely professionally". |
Farmland | Farmland |
Buganda is one of Uganda's four ancient kingdoms and its tribal members are Uganda's largest ethnic group. | Buganda is one of Uganda's four ancient kingdoms and its tribal members are Uganda's largest ethnic group. |
The country's traditional kingdoms were banned in 1966 but reinstated by President Yoweri Museveni in 1993. | The country's traditional kingdoms were banned in 1966 but reinstated by President Yoweri Museveni in 1993. |
The Buganda have long called for the restoration of a federal administration that would give their largely ceremonial king the formal political power he is currently denied. | |
They are also seeking more control over the traditional lands, which include prime farmland they say has been taken by other ethnic groups. |