KATHMANDU: Hundreds of people have been killed in Tanzania during three days of protests following Wednesday’s general election, according to the main opposition party.

An ongoing internet shutdown has made it difficult to confirm the exact number of deaths.

The opposition says around 700 people were killed in clashes with security forces, while independent sources suggest the toll could be at least 500.

Authorities have extended a nationwide curfew and urged calm, saying the situation is under control.

The government has described the unrest as isolated incidents, insisting security forces acted swiftly to restore order.

The protests, led mostly by young demonstrators, have spread across several cities as people accuse the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party of manipulating the election.

Opposition leaders say the government undermined democracy by jailing one rival and barring another from contesting, clearing the way for President Samia Suluhu Hassan to retain power.

Defying warnings from the army, crowds continued to demonstrate in Dar es Salaam on Friday, demanding fair elections and an end to political repression.