DAR ES SALAAM, 1 November (H.S.): Hundreds of people are feared dead in Tanzania following a brutal crackdown by security forces on widespread protests that erupted after Wednesday's contentious general election, according to the country's main opposition party.

The government has imposed a nationwide internet blackout, making verification of the death toll exceptionally difficult, but reports from opposition figures and diplomatic sources paint a grim picture of the violence.

Protests, led mainly by young demonstrators, have swept across major cities for three days, denouncing an election they call a sham. The public anger was fueled by the effective removal of President Samia Suluhu Hassan's primary challengers; one is currently jailed on treason charges, while another was barred from the ballot on technical grounds, all but ensuring her victory.

On Friday, the opposition Chadema party told the AFP news agency that around 700 people had been killed in clashes with security forces, with a spokesperson providing a breakdown of over 350 deaths in Dar es Salaam and more than 200 in Mwanza.

The United Nations has been more conservative, stating it has credible reports of at least 10 deaths, while Amnesty International's figure is at least 100.The government has staunchly refuted these claims. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Kombo Thabit dismissed the opposition's numbers as hugely exaggerated and asserted that authorities have no figures on any fatalities.

He defended the state's response, describing the unrest as a few isolated pockets of incidents and denying that security forces used excessive force. The government has justified the internet shutdown as a necessary measure to prevent vandalism and save lives.

Hospitals in Dar es Salaam are reportedly overwhelmed with casualties and have full morgues, but staff have been refusing to provide information to journalists or human rights groups.

Opposition officials claim their leaders are being hunted, forcing some to flee the country, and allege that massacres are carried out during night hours.The violence has drawn international condemnation. The UN has called on security forces to refrain from using unnecessary force, while the UK, Canada, and Norway issued a joint statement urging maximum restraint.

Official election results are expected on Saturday, with President Samia and her long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party widely expected to be declared the winner.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar