🔗 Share this article Roughly 700 Supposedly Slain in Tanzanian Election Clashes, Opposition Declares According to the primary rival group, around 700 citizens have reportedly been killed during a three-day period of election-related demonstrations in Tanzania. Violence Erupts on Election Day Protests started on Wednesday over allegations that activists described as the suppression of the rival camp after the exclusion of key contenders from the presidential race. Fatality Numbers Claimed A opposition spokesperson claimed that numerous of people had been killed since the unrest began. "Currently, the death toll in the port city is around 350 and for another city it is 200-plus. Combined with figures from other places throughout the nation, the total count is approximately 700," the official said. He added that the number could be much higher because deaths might be taking place during a evening curfew that was enforced from election day. Additional Accounts A official insider allegedly claimed there had been accounts of exceeding 500 deaths, "possibly 700-800 in the whole country." Amnesty International stated it had obtained information that at least 100 individuals had been slain. The opposition stated their numbers had been gathered by a network of activists attending hospitals and medical centers and "counting the deceased." Calls for Action The opposition urged the administration to "halt targeting our demonstrators" and called for a caretaker administration to pave the way for democratic polls. "Stop violence. Uphold the voice of the public which is democratic rights," the official declared. Authorities Measures Authorities reacted by imposing a lockdown. Online restrictions were also reported, with international monitors stating it was countrywide. On Thursday, the army chief criticized the violence and referred to the demonstrators "criminals". The official said law enforcement would seek to control the situation. Global Reaction United Nations human rights office expressed it was "deeply concerned" by the casualties in the demonstrations, adding it had received reports that at least 10 individuals had been killed by authorities. The organization mentioned it had obtained credible accounts of casualties in the port city, in a northwestern region and Morogoro, with security forces using real bullets and teargas to scatter crowds. Legal Perspective An civil rights lawyer stated it was "unreasonable" for authorities to resort to arms, noting that the nation's president "must cease deploying the police against the people." "The president should heed the public. The feeling of the nation is that there was an unfair process … The people are unable to elect one candidate," the advocate said.