Two dead in Tanzania march

2011-01-06 12:23

Arusha - Tanzanian police on Thursday said two people were killed and nine others injured in the northern town of Arusha after a march was dispersed and an opposition leader arrested.

"Two people who suffered gunshot wounds died after being taken to hospital," Tobias Andengenye, police chief for the Arusha region, told a news conference.

"Nine people are injured, including three police officers," he said.

Several thousand supporters of the Chadema party had gathered on Wednesday in Arusha town centre to protest what they say is the fraudulent re-election of President Jakaya Kikwete at the end of October.

Several party officials, including the chairman and the secretary general, were taken in by police who then fired to disperse demonstrators trying to march on police headquarters.

The provincial police chief confirmed that 49 Chadema members were arrested, including its chairman Freeman Mbowe and its secretary general Wilbrod Slaa, an anti-graft campaigner who ran in the October presidential election.

- AFP