WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Washington said it congratulated Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on his re-election but expressed concern over voting irregularities.
The Ugandan Electoral Commission declared Museveni, in power since 1986, winner of Friday's election with about 68 percent of the vote.
Opposition groups complained of bribery, ballot box stuffing and general irregularities at the polls.
The U.S. State Department said it viewed the election as "generally peaceful" but expressed concern over the use of "government resources for partisan campaigning and the heavy deployment of security forces on Election Day".
The department relayed congratulations to Museveni, however, but called on the government to do more to improve on its commitment to multiparty democracy.
Museveni, who recently abolished term limits, said he wouldn't tolerate mass protests like those sweeping across North Africa and the Middle East, adding anyone involved in street demonstrations would be arrested.
Opposition groups said they would take to the streets if the vote was viewed as fraudulent.
Ugandan officials said the voting Friday was generally peaceful. An opposition campaign worker was killed by a mob that included a member of Parliament, while a shot fired at candidate's motorcade injured a reporter. UPI
