Violence mars Tanzania polls

Dar es Salaam - At least one person died when supporters of rival political parties clashed during local elections in Tanzania, police and party leaders said on Monday, with an eyewitness saying the dead man had been shot by riot police.

The clash, which took place late on Sunday in the Kiburugwa neighbourhood on the outskirts of the main city of Dar es Salaam, reportedly involved members of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and the main opposition grouping, the Civic United Front (CUF).

There were other reports of violence during the voting, with five people said to have been injured at another location in Dar es Salaam.

"Anti-riot police shot dead one man" as they attempted to stop the fighting in Kiburugwa, an eyewitness told AFP. Police confirmed that there had been a clash between the two groups.

CUF Chairman Ibrahim Lipumba said that he had been informed of the incident, and added that the party's head office in Dar es Salaam was also attacked on Sunday afternoon and at least five people injured there.

Massive turnout

"I suspect that CCM supporters were the ones who attacked our offices," Lipumba said.

The head of another grouping, the National Convention for Construction Reform (NCCR), said on Monday that a group of people also attacked its offices in Dar es Salaam, injuring several guards posted outside.

NCCR chairperson James Mbatia said police also arrested a senior leader of his party in the country's southwestern town of Mbeya for alleged violation of electoral procedure.

"The allegations are not true. The officials only wanted to intimidate our members on polling day," he said.

In another incident, police said unknown people burned a local government vehicle late on Sunday.

There was a massive turnout throughout the country for the municipal polls, which were the second phase of elections to local authorities, an exercise that started on November 21.

President Benjamin Mkapa cast his ballot at his Sea View area residence in Dar es Salaam.

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