Uganda's main opposition partyurged the government today to allow the return of Idi Amin,in a coma in a Saudi hospital, but officials said the formerdictator could come back only if he went on trial.
Amin has lived mostly in Saudi Arabia since he was toppledin 1979, after eight years of rule in which fellow Ugandansaccused him of ordering the murder of tens of thousands.
Newspapers said Amin's wife Madina had asked the governmentto help facilitate his return.
"Only God can decide his fate now. His condition is veryworrying," she was quoted by the New Vision daily as saying.
Mr Henry Mayega, an official of the opposition Uganda People'sCongress (UPC), said some government officials wanted Amin dead.
There are people in this government who... want to dance onAmin's grave," Mr Mayega told reporters. "The government's job is tolook after Ugandans, which is not the case here."
The UPC is not a political ally of Amin - it was a UPCgovernment Amin overthrew when he seized power in 1971.
A government spokesman denied President Yoweri Museveni'sgovernment had refused Amin's return.
"Museveni's position has always been that all Ugandans canreturn, including Amin. However if they return, they will besubject to the full force of the law," presidential mediaadviser Mr John Nagenda told reporters.
"If he is tried and convicted Museveni still has theprerogative of mercy but it can only be exercised after he istried and convicted."