Uganda judiciary calls off strike

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Ugandan judges have said they will end a week-long strike called in protest over the storming of the High Court after the president expressed regret.

Last week, security agents raided the court to arrest six opposition supporters who had been granted bail.

The heavy-handed incident sparked outrage and the country's judiciary refused to continue working.

The country's chief justice said President Yoweri Museveni had now expressed the government's regrets.

New strike

"The president has also assured the public that government will undertake to ensure that such events do not reoccur and he assured the judiciary of its safety," Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki told a press conference.

"The judiciary accepts his apology," he added.

Nevertheless, a three-day strike called by Uganda's lawyers is set to begin as planned on Monday, when the judiciary heads back to work.

One lawyer was beaten unconscious during the raid on the high court by heavily-armed police officers and prison guards.

Fresh charges

The arrested men, who remain in custody on fresh charges of murder, were all supporters of opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

Two years ago, operations at the court were halted after a siege by a military unit during a case against Mr Besigye, who has been charged with treason.

The International Commission of Jurists has condemned last week's incident and urged the government to respect the independence and freedom of the judiciary.

The suspects arrested last week are alleged members of the People's Redemption Army (PRA) accused of plotting a coup.

The government has often linked Dr Besigye's name to the PRA, a rebel group that was allegedly based in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Dr Besigye who was charged with treason and rape in the run-up to the presidential elections last year has denied any link to the group.

He lost the election and still faces charges of treason in the High Court but was cleared of the rape charge last year.