Date: Saturday, March 11, 2006 9:48:42 PM EST

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, March 11 (UPI) -- Four hours of rioting began in Tanzania when police confiscated street vendors' wares in an effort to clean up the towns.

Prime Minister Edward Lowassa said he would halt the operation to allow local authorities and vendors more time to prepare for the change.

Vendors are blamed for an increase in petty crime, the BBC reported.

Rioting began after police and security guards confiscated vendors' wares and shops and offices were shut down, according to Tanzanian newspaper Mwananchi.

Many people were injured before anti-riot police quelled the violence with tear gas; two people were killed.

Kiosks were demolished and vendors removed in the capital, Dar es Salaam.

Vendors complain their new trading spots are not downtown, and they are being denied their right to earn a living.

Many say they were given licenses and paid taxes and expect compensation for destruction of their property.

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