Terrorist attack foiled

Ugandan authorities have uncovered what they are calling a terrorist cell in the capital of Kampala, which is said to have been run by the Somali militant Islamist group al-Shabab.

The US Embassy in Uganda on Saturday said the group had been planning an imminent terrorist attack.

"At this point we are not aware of specific targets, and the Ugandan authorities have increased security at key sites, including Entebbe International Airport," the embassy said in a statement on its website and on Twitter.

The embassy also urged its citizens in the east African nation to be alert and to stay indoors.

The embassy had warned earlier in the week that the Somali al-Shabab terrorist group would possibly plot attacks in retaliation for a raid that killed leader Ahmed Godane earlier this month. The group's new leader, Ahmad Umar, had vowed revenge for the airstrike that killed Godane.

Uganda's Ministry of Internal Affairs said immigration officers had carried out an "operation on illegal immigrant workers in different parts of Kampala" on Saturday morning, with 69 people arrested, news agency AFP reported.

Police spokesman Fred Enanga confirmed Ugandan police had made arrests, but he gave no further details.

"Joint security agencies in Uganda have foiled a terrorist attempt at one of its installations," Enanga told AFP.

Uganda is one of the countries that contribute forces to an African Union peacekeeping mission battling al-Shabab in Somalia. The militant group has carried out attacks in Uganda in recent years and has threatened more.

sb/nm (AFP, Reuters)