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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 28 OctOber 2020
At least 11 shot dead ahead of Tanzania’s presidential vote

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania (AP) and the ruling party wasn't
— Police in Tanzania shot responding to phone calls.
dead at least nine citizens CHADEMA's presidential
amid unrest over alleged candidate, Tundu Lissu,
fraud ahead of the presi- condemned the killings
dential election, a major and urged people to "go
opposition party asserted into the street and demand
Tuesday, while officials de- for justice" if the National
nied it and one of Africa's Electoral Commission an-
most populous countries nounces election results
watched internet service on Thursday, the day after
slow to a crawl ahead of the vote, before ballots are
Wednesday's vote. properly counted.
The other main opposition "I'm alarmed by reports
party accused ruling party from Zanzibar and else-
officials of shooting two where of violence, deaths
people dead at a cam- and detentions," the U.S.
paign rally elsewhere in the ambassador to Tanzania,
country once praised for its Donald J. Wright, said in a
peace but now a growing statement. "It's not too late
human rights crisis under to prevent more blood-
populist President John Ma- shed! Security forces must
gufuli, who seeks a second show restraint."
five-year term. Tanzanian army personal vote during early voting in Zanzibar, during Tanzania election Tuesday, The United Nations human
In the semi-autonomous Oct. 27, 2020. Associated Press rights office said it was
island region of Zanzibar, "particularly alarmed" by
the ACT Wazalendo party the party said, and police told reporters that some CHADEMA party asserted reports of the shootings in
accused police of open- confirmed it. He later was people were hurt "acci- that two people were killed Zanzibar. "We have been
ing fire Monday night after released. dentally" but "there was and three wounded when following with concern the
residents suspected soldiers "I think it is going to be a no casualty." Police said local ruling party officials shrinking of democratic
of distributing pre-marked very terrible situation," Pavu 72 people were arrested opened fire at a campaign space in the country, with
ballots to polling stations Juma Abdalla, ACT Waza- and accused of damag- rally. worrying reports of intimi-
designated for advance lendo's deputy secretary ing properties near polling "The bodies and injured dation, harassment, arbi-
voting and tried to stop for human rights, told The places. have been rushed to the trary arrests and physical
them. Ten other people Associated Press. She said There was a heavy police district hospital," local attacks against political
were seriously wounded, more than 100 people and military presence in member of parliament opponents," spokeswoman
the party said. were arrested. Zanzibar on Tuesday, with John Heche told the AP. Ravina Shamdasani said.
The ACT Wazalendo presi- Tanzania's inspector gen- police using tear gas on cit- "Their plan was to make Opposition parties and hu-
dential candidate in Zan- eral of police, Simon Sirro, izens who defied an order sure we don't survive the man rights groups have ex-
zibar, Maalim Seif Sharif denied any deaths. An- to remain at home. election." pressed concern that the
Hamad, was arrested Tues- other police official, Urban Elsewhere, in Nyamon- He said police saw the vote is already compro-
day morning at a polling West Regional Police Com- go town in northeastern shooting and did nothing. mised in favor of the ruling
station as he went to vote, mander Awadhi Juma Haji, Tanzania, the opposition Police didn't comment, party. q
From Spain, top dissident vows to fight for free Venezuela

By ARITZ PARRA that change shouldn't hap- The Associated Press that
Associated Press pen because of external it lasted more than an hour
MADRID (AP) — Leopoldo influence but due to the and a half and that both
López, the Venezuelan Venezuelan people's will "in leaders showed "much
politician who for years has coordination with the free empathy." Presenting him-
led the biggest challenge world." "I have faith and self as a "commissioner" of
to the government of Nico- conviction," he said. the government of Juan
lás Maduro, has pledged López spoke to cameras Guaidó, who has been rec-
from his self-imposed exile minutes after he was re- ognized by more than 50
in Spain to continue fight- ceived by Spanish Prime countries as Venezuela's in-
ing to "free" his homeland. Minister Pedro Sánchez at terim leader because Mad-
López, who spent over six the headquarters of Sán- uro's 2018 re-election was
years in prison, confined chez's Socialist party in Ma- considered illegitimate,
at home or in the Spanish drid — a choice of location López pledged to promote
embassy in Caracas, ad- interpreted as an attempt a "free, fair and verifiable"
dressed reporters Tuesday by the Spanish leader to new presidential election in Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez takes part on a
for the first time since reunit- distance his left-wing coali- Venezuela. news conference in Madrid on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020.
Associated Press
ing with his relatives in the tion from the Venezuelan Maduro's government also
Spanish capital two days politician. Sánchez's part- is preparing to retake con- López fled Saturday from 2019, and landed in Madrid
earlier. "It is our responsibility ner in the government, the trol of the National Assem- the Spanish ambassador's on Sunday.
and also the one of nations far-left United We Can par- bly, the last major domes- residence in Caracas, Asked about details of the
that believe in democracy, ty, has in the past had con- tic institution in opposition where he had found shel- whirlwind escape, he de-
to do everything in their nections with Chavismo. hands, in December legis- ter since he led a failed clined to release any infor-
power to liberate Venezu- A close aide with knowl- lative elections that Guaidó U.S.-backed military revolt mation that he said could
ela," said López, adding edge of the meeting told has vowed to boycott. against Maduro in April endanger others.q