20110430
reuters

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Two people were killed on Friday and at least 90 injured across the Ugandan capital as police fired bullets and teargas at crowds protesting against the arrest of an opposition leader.

Kizza Besigye, who was doused with pepper spray as police snatched him from his car on Thursday, arrived in Kenya on Friday evening for treatment after an airport stand-off with government agents trying to block his departure.

The U.S. embassy in Kampala said it had intervened to help the opposition leader who was defeated by President Yoweri Museveni for the third time in a February election.

"Embassy officials spoke to the government to allow Dr Kizza Besigye to obtain appropriate medical attention," spokeswoman Joann Lockard told Reuters.

Besigye was detained on Thursday for the fourth time this month during a protest against high food and fuel prices.

Television footage showed Besigye being beaten and drenched repeatedly with pepper-spray before he was dragged into a police pickup truck.

He was later released on bail for medical treatment after his lawyer said he could not see.

An official from Besigye's party said the opposition leader was not running away to Kenya and hoped to return to Uganda for a court appearance on Monday if he recovered.