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Per the chief rival group, about 700 people have reportedly been slain during 72 hours of poll-related clashes in Tanzania.

Clashes Erupts on Polling Day

Uprisings erupted on election day over allegations that protesters called the suppression of the rival camp after the exclusion of key contenders from the presidential race.

Casualty Figures Claimed

An rival representative declared that hundreds of people had been slain since the protests commenced.

"At present, the fatality count in Dar es Salaam is nearly 350 and for Mwanza it is over 200. Added to numbers from elsewhere across the country, the overall count is nearly 700," he remarked.

The spokesperson added that the number could be significantly greater because killings may be taking place during a nighttime curfew that was imposed from Wednesday.

Other Accounts

• A security source allegedly mentioned there had been reports of more than 500 deaths, "maybe 700-800 in the entire nation."
• The human rights organization stated it had obtained reports that at least 100 civilians had been slain.
• The opposition stated their estimates had been collected by a group of party members attending clinics and health centers and "counting fatalities."

Calls for Change

Rival officials demanded the authorities to "cease harming our protesters" and demanded a interim government to enable just and transparent votes.

"Halt excessive force. Respect the voice of the public which is fair elections," the spokesperson said.

Government Response

The government reacted by implementing a restriction. Internet disruption were also reported, with international observers indicating it was across the nation.

On Thursday, the army chief condemned the clashes and labeled the activists "criminals". The official announced security forces would seek to manage the situation.

International Concern

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "worried" by the fatalities and harm in the protests, noting it had gathered accounts that no fewer than 10 individuals had been lost their lives by law enforcement.

The organization stated it had collected credible accounts of deaths in the port city, in a northwestern region and an eastern area, with officials using gunfire and chemical irritants to break up crowds.

Legal Opinion

An civil rights lawyer remarked it was "unreasonable" for authorities to employ violence, noting that the country's president "ought to cease deploying the law enforcement against the civilians."

"The president needs to heed the people. The feeling of the nation is that there was an unfair process … The people cannot choose a single contender," the lawyer stated.