[Arab News] Uganda's opposition leader called for peaceful anti-government protests and a re-run of last week's disputed presidential poll on Thursday, but the authorities said demonstrations would not be tolerated.
Kizza Besigye said last week's presidential and parliamentary polls were a sham due to widespread bribery, ballot box stuffing and military intimidation.
"We therefore make a call to action. The time is now for the people of Uganda to rise and peacefully protest against the outcome of the 2011 elections," Besigye, leader of the Inter-Party Cooperation coalition, told a news conference.
After unsuccessfully appealing to the Supreme Court to overturn the results of the previous two polls -- which the court acknowledged had been marred by rigging and violence against the opposition -- Besigye says he has lost faith in the judicial system.
A police spokeswoman said it was too risky to permit demonstrations against incumbent President Yoweri Museveni's election to a fourth term in office.
"We can't allow them to demonstrate, there's already enough tension," police spokeswoman Judith Nabakoba told Rooters. 
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