Kampala  - An international human rights body is urging the Ugandan government to investigate the killings of civilians by security forces during the anti-government riots of recent weeks.

Human Rights Watch Friday accused the Ugandan government of using excessive force and of directly shooting dead 13 of the 27 civilians who were killed during the violent September 10-11 demonstrations.

More than 80 others were injured and police arrested nearly 900 people during and after the riots.

The government spokesperson, Information Minister Kabakumba Matsiko, told the German Press Agency dpa that there was no excessive force used during the demonstrations.

Thousands of people from the country's dominant Baganda tribe took to the streets in protest against the government decision to block the planned tour of their Kabaka
(king) Ronald Muwenda Mutebi to one of his counties north-east of Kampala. The riots quickly spread to several other towns in the kingdom.

The government insisted that the king's safety was not assured due to the resistance to his visit by another smaller tribe living in the county.

The king's supporters threw barricades across the streets and highways, burnt vehicles and attacked police posts, provoking the deployment of heavily-armed security forces which used tear gas and live bullets to quell the riots.

The government closed down four radio stations including one belonging to the Buganda monarchy, accusing the presenters of inciting violence. Since then, only one has been allowed to resume broadcasts.

Human Rights Watch urged the government to open an investigation into the killing of unarmed persons.

"Shooting in self defence is one thing, but we found that some soldiers shot at bystanders and shot through locked doors. The government needs to put an impartial investigation in motion now," Georgette Gagnon, HRW's Africa director, said.

The information minister insisted that the government had to use force because the demonstrators were attacking both the policemen and other civilians.

"The accusation by Human Rights Watch is not true. It was important that government came in. These people were attacking innocent civilians and policemen," Matsiko said.

President Yoweri Museveni revived kingdom rule in 1993 after the abolition of the monarchies during the 1960s, but current kings are not allowed to engage in politics unlike in the past.

The Buganda kingdom has often been at loggerheads with the government over demands for the return of kingdom properties that were confiscated in the 1960s, and for the restoration of federal rule.

Museveni met with King Mutebi on Wednesday to dissolve the stalemate but details of the discussions have not been revealed.  dpa