20110518
reuters

Uganda's veteran President Yoweri Museveni, facing month-long anti-government protests, pledged on Tuesday to "end this criminality" and accused the police and judiciary of being too soft

Demonstrations over high fuel and food prices have been crushed by security forces firing teargas and live rounds to disperse crowds. The violence has drawn condemnation from countries including the United States.

"Weaknesses in the existing laws, too much laxity by elements of the judiciary and the police allow all this indiscipline and criminality to persist," Museveni said in a written statement in which he also criticised local and foreign media.

"The media houses, both local and international, such as Al Jazeera, BBC, NTV, The Daily Monitor, etc., that cheer on these irresponsible people are enemies of Uganda's recovery and they will have to be treated as such," said Museveni, a former rebel leader who took power in 1986.

The protests started slowly but were boosted three weeks ago when police arrested opposition leader Kizza Besigye for the fourth time, dousing him with pepper spray at point-blank range before hauling him onto a truck.

Museveni, who beat Besigye in February elections for the third time, accused his rival of leading a "criminal circus" when he returned last week from Kenya after receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained during his arrest.

Besigye, he said, was using drug-users to spark unrest.

"This will not continue," Museveni said. "We are seeking for everybody's understanding as we end this criminality using all the angles of the law."