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Zanzibari Police Clash With Protesters
Zanzibari Police Surround Opposition Party Headquarters, Move Into Other Areas

Police officers beat two men suspected of being opposition supporters, Monday, Oct. 31, 2005 near Stone Town in Zanzibar. Riot police used tear gas and water cannon Monday to disperse opposition supporters celebrating what their leader called a clear early lead in returns from crucial elections on this semiautonomous archipelago. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
By CHRIS TOMLINSON Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania Nov 1, 2005 Police backed by soldiers surrounded opposition party offices on Tuesday and clashed with protesters in opposition strongholds following disputed weekend elections.
Two boats full of troops left Tanzania's commercial capital of Dar es Salaam to reinforce military presence in this semiautonomous Indian Ocean archipelago.
Zanzibar's main city of Stone Town echoed with the sounds of exploding tear gas canisters Tuesday as opposition supporters engaged police in running battles down the narrow 17th century alleyways. In one neighborhood, Associated Press reporters watched as police used water canons against opposition supporters.
Officers sealed off roads to opposition strongholds and at least 12 people were taken to hospital by Red Cross and Red Crescent workers. Shops remained closed for a third day because of the violence.
The clashes came as the main opposition party, Civic United Front, claimed its leader, Seif Sharif Hamad, had won 51 percent of the presidential vote.
"I am now declaring victory in the presidential election," Hamad said, threatening to call for mass action if electoral officials declare the incumbent, Amani Abeid Karume, the winner.
Electoral and ruling party officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the opposition victory claim.
But state-run radio said the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, or Revolutionary Party, had trounced the opposition in legislative elections, winning 27 seats compared with 19 for Civic United Front.
Police surrounded the headquarters of the Civic United Front and ordered thousands of opposition supporters gathered there to disperse. But the crowd continued to swell with young men singing defiant party songs, forcing the officers to pull back.
On the second island of Pemba, witnesses said police were beating up opposition supporters at their party's headquarters. The witnesses declined to be identified because of fears of retribution.
Sunday's balloting, following a campaign marked by violence and recrimination, saw voters on the "spice islands" choose between socialists who have ruled for more than 30 years and an opposition promising privatization and wholesale economic reform.
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