Youth protested the delays in the elections results in the Republic of Tanzania where the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi was expected to retain control of the East African state.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Thursday, 06 January 2011 20:44
DAR ES SALAAM.
Police shot dead two rioters in Tanzania and arrested at least 10 leading opposition figures during a violent political demonstration, a senior police official said yesterday.
Riot police fired at crowds of opposition supporters in the northern town of Arusha on Wednesday after the authorities banned their rally.
Opposition leader Willibrod Slaa, who ran in last year's disputed presidential election, was among those detained from his Chadema party.
"Two people died . . . after being shot by the police while trying to forcefully invade a police station to free their colleagues who were arrested," Arusha Regional Police Commander Thobias Andengenye told Reuters.
Police arrested 49 people in total, including Chadema's chairman, Freeman Mbowe, and at least four opposition lawmakers.
The detained opposition leaders were later charged in court and released on bail.
Following his release, Slaa accompanied by other Chadema leaders visited a local hospital where a dozen opposition supporters were admitted with gunshot wounds and other injuries.
Chadema said it would issue a formal statement on the situation on Friday while Tanzania's home affairs minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, called for calm in the wake of the violence.
He urged opposition leaders to engage the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party in dialogue over a dispute in the election of the mayor of Arusha, which caused the riots.
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