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Thousands mourn, revile Uganda's Obote at rival funerals
 Tens of thousands of Ugandans turned out a rival ceremonies to mourn and condemn the country's twice-toppled president Milton Obote, illustrating a bitter debate over the late leader's legacy. A day after his arch-foe, President Yoweri Museveni, made a surprisingly strong appeal to mark Mr Obote's death in exile last week to herald a new era of national reconciliation, large crowds at the two events underscored the deep divide. As a sombre crowd of 15,000 to 20,000 people gathered to grieve at an open-air state funeral service in Kampala's Independence Square, some 10,000 showed up at a rival demonstration to rejoice at Mr Obote's demise, an AFP correspondent said. Mr Museveni, who led the rebellion that toppled Mr Obote and sent him into exile in Zambia 20 years ago but then praised his nemesis and placed a wreath on his flag-draped coffin in parliament on Thursday, was absent from the official service. Posted by: Fred 2005-10-22 |
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