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Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose re-election prompted protests and a deadly police crackdown, faces international calls for accountability.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan says her government will launch an inquiry into the deadly unrest that erupted following her controversial re-election last month, as claims of an undemocratic vote process prompted mass protests.<\/p>\n Speaking during the opening session of Tanzania\u2019s new parliament on Friday, Hassan said she was \u201cdeeply saddened by the incident\u201d and offered condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the crackdown.<\/p>\n list of 3 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n \u201cThe government has taken the step of forming an inquiry commission to investigate what happened,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Her comments mark the first conciliatory message since Tanzanian authorities violently cracked down on widespread demonstrations following the country\u2019s October 29 presidential election.<\/p>\n Hassan was declared the winner of the vote with nearly 98 percent support, after her leading rivals were barred from participating, fuelling anger and frustration among many Tanzanians who said the contest was unfair.<\/p>\n While the exact death toll is unclear, Tanzania\u2019s main opposition party has said hundreds of people were killed as the government sent troops into the streets to disperse the protests. Authorities also imposed an internet blackout on the East African nation.<\/p>\n Rights groups have called for an independent and thorough investigation into what happened, with Amnesty International saying<\/a> the authorities committed \u201cgrave human rights violations that include unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, unlawful detentions\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAuthorities should promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigate all killings by security agents and bring to justice in fair trials those suspected of being responsible,\u201d the organisation said in a statement in early November.<\/p>\n The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, also urged the Tanzanian government earlier this week to investigate the killings and other rights violations.<\/p>\n He called on the authorities to provide information about the whereabouts of people who have gone missing and to hand over the bodies of those killed.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n
\u2018Grave human rights violations\u2019<\/h2>\n