Uganda opposition leader released on bail

UGANDA’S main opposition leader was released on bail yesterday, and greeted some 12,000 supporters outside the court where he is on trial for charges he says were fabricated to keep him out of next month’s presidential election.

Police fired bullets and tear gas outside the courthouse to scatter supporters who broke through a police cordon to greet Kizza Besigye as he left the court and waved from the open roof of a sports utility vehicle.

An Associated Press reporter saw military police beating some civilians. The army deployed armoured personnel carriers in the city. Mr Besigye told journalists he was concerned he would be re-arrested.