Police shot dead two anti-government protesters in Tanzania and arrested at least 10 leading opposition figures during a violent political demonstration, a senior police official said on Thursday.
Riot police fired at crowds of opposition supporters in the northern town of Arusha on Wednesday after the authorities banned their rally.
Opposition leader Willibrod Slaa, who ran in last year's disputed presidential election, was among those detained. His Chadema party spoke of a deliberate crackdown on the opposition.
"Two people died ... after being shot by the police while trying to forcefully invade a police station to free their colleagues who were arrested," Arusha Regional Police Commander Thobias Andengenye told Reuters.
Police arrested 49 people in total, including Chadema's chairman, Freeman Mbowe, and at least four opposition lawmakers.
The detained opposition leaders were later charged in court and released on bail.
"All those who were arrested by the police, including Chadema leaders and our supporters, were charged with unlawful assembly and were subsequently released on bail," Chadema's acting secretary-general, John Mnyika, told Reuters.
Following his release, Slaa accompanied by other Chadema leaders visited a local hospital where a dozen opposition supporters were admitted with gunshot wounds and other injuries.
Tanzanian police kill two rioters, seize leaders | Top News | Reuters