Cops and army troops deployed in Tanzania to prevent violence

Police and soldiers deployed in force in Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar Es Salaam, on Tuesday to try to prevent protests called for by activists to denounce the violent suppression of demonstrations around elections in October, reports CNN 

The government said any protests on Tuesday, the anniversary of mainland Tanzania's independence from Britain in 1961, would amount to a coup attempt and urged people to stay at home. Presidential and parliamentary elections on October 29 triggered the worst political violence in Tanzania's post-independence history. The UN has estimated that hundreds were killed. 

The police and army were patrolling major streets in Dar Es Salaam and checking the identification of anyone seeking to move around, residents told Reuters.

The Inspector General of Police in Tanzania Camillus Mongoso Wambura, attends a press conference in Dar es Salaam warning against anti-government protests called over deadly violence following the October elections. 

Police and soldiers deployed in force in Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar Es Salaam, on Tuesday to try to prevent protests called for by activists to denounce the violent suppression of demonstrations around elections in October. 

The government said any protests on Tuesday, the anniversary of mainland Tanzania's independence from Britain in 1961, would amount to a coup attempt and urged people to stay at home. 

Presidential and parliamentary elections on October 29 triggered the worst political violence in Tanzania's post-independence history. The UN has estimated that hundreds were killed. 

The police and army were patrolling major streets in Dar Es Salaam and checking the identification of anyone seeking to move around, residents told Reuters.

They said the situation appeared calm as of late morning, although one resident and some activists on social media said small protests had begun in some parts of the city. This could not be immediately confirmed. 

A police spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. 

Hassan won a new term in the election with nearly 98% of the vote after leading opposition candidates were barred from running. 
She last month promised to investigate election-related violence but has repeatedly denied that security forces acted improperly.