Calm returned to the centre of Uganda's capital yesterday after two days of deadly riots, although police and residents clashed on the outskirts.

Many shops remained closed in the centre of the city and Kampala residents walked cautiously past police with their hands in the air to try and avoid beatings, sometimes unsuccessfully.

Security forces fired in the air and used tear gas to disperse small groups of youths trying to erect blazing barricades in Kampala's Kuburi and Kalelwe districts.

"We think we have neutralised all the groups which have been causing disturbances for the last two days. The city and suburbs are calm now," police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba told Reuters.

Violence erupted last Thursday when the government tried to ban the king of Buganda, one of the east African country's four ancient kingdoms, from travelling to Kayunga. Buganda and the central government are in dispute over land and power.

Local media say more than a dozen people have been killed in the riots. (Reuters)

Policeman drowns in Greek island flood

A police officer died as flash floods engulfed homes and cut off roads on the Greek island of Evia, officials said yesterday.

Police said the officer's car was swept off a flooded road and into a nearby river. The body of the 39-year-old man was recovered early yesterday.

Local authorities in Evia said dozens of homes and businesses had been flooded, several main roads were cut off, and a bridge was destroyed following heavy overnight rain. (PA)

Two killed in donkey bomb blasts

Police said two bombs being carried by donkeys exploded in north-eastern Colombia, killing two coca-eradication workers and wounding six soldiers.

Police General Orlando Pineda said the workers were heading from one field to another to destroy coca plants when the explosives tied to the two donkeys went off.

Officials attributed the attack to the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

The civilian workers were being protected by soldiers. (PA)

Anti-abortion protester shot dead

A man set off on a shooting spree, authorities said, killing an anti-abortion protester outside a high school because he didn't like the activist holding a sign with graphic images of a foetus in front of students.

The gunman drove next to a gravel pit business and shot and killed the owner, who apparently also upset him, police said.

Authorities believe they stopped a third killing by catching up with the gunman before he could kill again.

Harlan James Drake, 33, was charged with first-degree murder. (PA)

12 officers hurt after far-right rally

Twelve officers were injured in clashes with left-wing demonstrators following a far-right rally in Hamburg, German police said yesterday.

Police spokesman Ralf Meyer said 60 people - mostly left-wing activists - were arrested over the clashes, which came after a demonstration against the far-right march.

Barricades and cars were set alight during the violence and police were attacked with bottles and stones.

Mr Meyer said an officer fired a warning shot after one police car was attacked. (PA)

Murder arrests made

Authorities in Guatemala arrested seven men including five policemen for the May 10 killing of lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg, who accused the country's president in a posthumously released video tape.

A special investigation group known as the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala says there is "overwhelming scientific evidence" the men carried out the hit.

The commission said other suspects planned and ordered the killing, but didn't name them. (PA)

Obama neighbours sought in Chicago

The 17-room home next door to President Barack Obama's Chicago's house was put up for sale.

The property agent said the Obama factor will play a role in the price. Homes in the area usually go for between one million and 2.5 million US dollars. The current owners bought the 6,000-square-foot home that has eight bedrooms and three bathrooms for $35,000 in 1973.

But living near the Obamas isn't without its hassles. The block is barricaded even when the Obamas aren't home and getting on the street means being on a secret service list. (PA)

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