Tanzania bans pro-Odinga rally
2008-01-05 12:57
Dar es Salaam - Tanzania's police have banned a rally planned by opposition parties in solidarity with Kenya's defeated presidential challenger Raila Odinga, says a senior police official.
"Insecurity in Kenya has posed security risks for Tanzania as well. Holding a demonstration in support of one side only to the conflict will worsen the situation," said senior Dar es Salaam police official Alfred Tibaigana.
He said four major opposition parties sent a letter to the police informing them of the planned demonstration in Dar es Salaam.
He named the parties as the Civic United Front (CUF), Chama Cha Democrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), the National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR-Mageuzi) and the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP).
Tibaigana said the four opposition movements had refused to cancel their rally and added that the police had urged residents of the economic capital to boycott the demonstration.