🔗 Share this article Roughly 700 Supposedly Slain in Tanzania Poll Clashes, Rival Announces Based on the primary rival group, nearly 700 citizens have purportedly died during 72 hours of poll-related unrest in the East African nation. Violence Starts on Voting Day Uprisings started on Wednesday over allegations that protesters described as the stifling of the opposition after the disqualification of prominent candidates from the presidential race. Death Estimates Claimed A rival official stated that scores of civilians had been killed since the unrest started. "At present, the death toll in Dar es Salaam is around 350 and for another city it is more than 200. Including estimates from other places across the country, the overall figure is nearly 700," the spokesperson stated. The spokesperson noted that the number could be significantly greater because killings may be taking place during a nighttime curfew that was enforced from election day. Further Accounts A security insider supposedly stated there had been accounts of exceeding 500 deaths, "possibly 700-800 in the nationwide." The human rights organization stated it had obtained reports that a minimum of 100 civilians had been lost their lives. The opposition asserted their figures had been collected by a team of activists visiting clinics and medical centers and "documenting fatalities." Demands for Intervention Rival officials urged the authorities to "cease killing our activists" and demanded a transitional administration to pave the way for just and transparent votes. "Halt police brutality. Honor the voice of the citizens which is fair elections," the official declared. Authorities Reaction Officials reacted by enforcing a curfew. Internet disruption were also noted, with international monitors indicating it was nationwide. On Thursday, the military leader condemned the clashes and labeled the activists "offenders". He stated authorities would try to control the unrest. Global Concern The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "worried" by the deaths and injuries in the demonstrations, adding it had obtained information that a minimum of 10 civilians had been lost their lives by authorities. The organization mentioned it had received trustworthy information of deaths in the port city, in Shinyanga and Morogoro, with officials using gunfire and teargas to scatter crowds. Expert Opinion An human rights advocate claimed it was "unacceptable" for law enforcement to use force, stating that the country's president "ought to cease using the police against the civilians." "She should heed the people. The sentiment of the country is that there was no election … We are unable to elect only one option," the lawyer commented.