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According to the leading rival group, about 700 citizens have allegedly perished during a three-day period of poll-related protests in Tanzania.

Unrest Begins on Voting Day

Demonstrations erupted on Wednesday over allegations that protesters called the stifling of the opposition after the exclusion of prominent hopefuls from the presidential ballot.

Casualty Figures Claimed

A rival spokesperson stated that scores of individuals had been slain since the unrest began.

"At present, the death toll in the port city is around 350 and for Mwanza it is over 200. Combined with figures from other regions around the nation, the final figure is about 700," the official stated.

The spokesperson added that the toll could be much higher because killings could be occurring during a night-time lockdown that was enforced from Wednesday.

Further Reports

• A official insider supposedly mentioned there had been reports of more than 500 deaths, "possibly 700-800 in the nationwide."
• Amnesty International stated it had gathered information that at least 100 people had been lost their lives.
• Rival groups claimed their figures had been compiled by a team of party members visiting medical facilities and medical centers and "documenting the deceased."

Demands for Intervention

Rival officials called for the authorities to "cease targeting our activists" and demanded a interim government to pave the way for free and fair polls.

"Halt violence. Honor the choice of the people which is democratic rights," the spokesperson declared.

Government Reaction

Officials responded by enforcing a curfew. Online restrictions were also reported, with global observers stating it was nationwide.

On Thursday, the army chief criticized the violence and called the activists "criminals". He stated authorities would seek to contain the unrest.

Global Response

The UN human rights office said it was "deeply concerned" by the casualties in the protests, mentioning it had received information that no fewer than 10 people had been lost their lives by law enforcement.

The organization reported it had received trustworthy information of fatalities in Dar es Salaam, in Shinyanga and Morogoro, with officials using live ammunition and teargas to disperse crowds.

Expert Perspective

A civil rights lawyer remarked it was "unjustified" for law enforcement to employ violence, stating that the country's president "must cease using the police against the civilians."

"The president should pay attention to the public. The mood of the nation is that there was no election … We cannot vote for one candidate," the advocate said.