Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan played down days of bloody protest as she was inaugurated on Monday, with an internet blackout still in place as the opposition says hundreds were killed. The electoral commission said Hassan won 98 percent of the vote.

The main opposition party, Chadema, which was barred from running, has rejected the results. It has called for fresh elections, saying last Wednesday’s vote was a “sham”. A diplomatic source said there were credible reports of hundreds — perhaps even thousands — of deaths registered at hospitals and health clinics around Tanzania.

Chadema said it had recorded “no less than 800” deaths by Saturday, but none of the figures could be independently verified. The government has not commented on any deaths, except to reject accusations that “excessive force” was used. (AFP)