đŸ”— Share this article Approximately 700 Reportedly Perish in Tanzania Election Uprisings, Rival States According to the main opposition party, around 700 individuals have reportedly been slain during a three-day period of poll-related protests in Tanzania. Clashes Begins on Election Day Demonstrations erupted on election day over claims that protesters labeled the suppression of the rival camp after the exclusion of prominent hopefuls from the presidential race. Death Numbers Stated An rival spokesperson stated that scores of individuals had been killed since the unrest commenced. "Currently, the number of deaths in the port city is about 350 and for Mwanza it is over 200. Combined with numbers from elsewhere around the country, the overall count is around 700," he said. He noted that the toll could be significantly greater because killings might be happening during a nighttime restriction that was imposed from election day. Other Reports An official insider reportedly mentioned there had been information of more than 500 fatalities, "maybe 700-800 in the entire nation." Amnesty International stated it had received data that no fewer than 100 individuals had been killed. Rival groups asserted their estimates had been compiled by a team of party members going to clinics and medical centers and "counting the deceased." Demands for Change Rival officials urged the authorities to "stop targeting our protesters" and requested a interim administration to facilitate democratic polls. "Stop violence. Uphold the choice of the citizens which is fair elections," the spokesperson stated. Authorities Reaction The government responded by implementing a curfew. Web outages were also noted, with international monitors stating it was nationwide. On Thursday, the army chief condemned the violence and called the demonstrators "criminals". The official announced security forces would seek to manage the situation. International Reaction United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "alarmed" by the fatalities and harm in the unrest, noting it had gathered reports that at least 10 civilians had been lost their lives by security forces. The organization stated it had collected reliable information of casualties in Dar es Salaam, in Shinyanga and an eastern area, with law enforcement using gunfire and teargas to break up protesters. Legal Opinion A human rights lawyer stated it was "unjustified" for security agencies to use force, adding that the nation's leader "should cease deploying the law enforcement against the public." "She should listen to the people. The sentiment of the nation is that there was an unfair process … The people cannot choose one candidate," the lawyer said.