Image caption Onyango Obama denies drinking and driving, careless driving and failing to yield right of way

US President Barack Obama's uncle has been arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving, authorities have said.

Onyango Obama, 67, said he would call the White House to arrange bail, after being stopped on Friday in the US state of Massachusetts, says a police report.

A half-brother of the president's late father, he is being held without bail, subject to an immigration order.

Police said the Kenya native was arrested after driving through a stop sign and nearly hitting a police car.

Mr Obama was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and failure to yield the right of way.

'Argumentative'

He pleaded not guilty over the incident in the town of Framingham, about 20 miles (32km) outside the city of Boston.

Framingham police officer Val Krishtal said in a written report that when stopped Mr Obama was slurring his speech and argumentative.

"I explained to him that I narrowly avoided striking his vehicle, and he told me that he did not hear my tyres screeching so I was not being accurate," Mr Krishtal wrote in the report.

According to the report, when taken to a police station and asked whether he wanted to make a telephone call to arrange bail, Mr Obama said: "I think I will call the White House."

Mr Krishtal said Mr Obama had failed several breathalyser tests.

In a court document, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it had previously made Onyango Obama the subject of a deportation order.