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Hello and welcome to News Hour, live from the BBC World Service in London.

I'm Rebecca Kesby.

We begin the programme today in East Africa, Tanzania, home to the majestic Serengeti National Park and Kilimanjaro, Africa's

highest mountain. But we're getting reports that hundreds of people have been killed there

following the general election on Wednesday. Preliminary official results suggest the incumbent

president, Samir Saluhu Hassan, has won.

The final announcement is expected tomorrow, but opposition parties and civil rights groups say the elections were not free and fair.

Demonstrations have broken out over the past couple of days in the commercial capital Dar Salam and other cities, including the northern city of Mwanza.

Security forces are reported to have used live ammunition in clashes with protesters.

Well, international diplomatic sources in Tanzania have told the BBC they have credible evidence that at least 500 people have been killed.

The BBC's focus on Africa program spoke to the Tanzanian foreign minister, Mahmoud Tabit Kondo.

So does he know how many people have died?

Nobody can state how many were injured, how many suffered,

or how many properties were burned. We are continuing to receive also the reports of the vandalized

properties, private properties, including several regions of Tanzania. We are collecting that

information. I'm struggling to believe that, Minister, because I

believe as government, you have the capacity, the resources, there are government hospitals that

can tell how many people have been brought in injured. There are security agencies that also carry

out these jobs. Have they not given you a rough figure that you can help us with this evening?

No. At the moment, there is no rough figure. You are very right. The government is

very capable. All our hospitals are very capable. All our security organs are very capable.

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