Release International

As Tanzania prepares to announce the results of its presidential and parliamentary elections, Release International is urging the country's new government to act to prevent extremist attacks against Christians.

'The election campaign focused understandably on poverty and development - but whoever takes power must act to prevent the growing problem of extremist violence,' says Paul Robinson of Release International, which supports persecuted Christians around the world.

'There has been a growing number of attacks against churches and Christian pastors as militants attempt to bring division and destabilise communities. A recent fact-finding visit by Release heard evidence that pastors are being deliberately targeted by Islamist extremists.

'Their aim appears to be to stir up conflict in pursuit of a radical Islamist agenda. That same agenda is being ruthlessly pursued in a number of nations in Africa. Release urges the new government in Tanzania to look closely at events in Nigeria, for example, and make security a high priority.'

In recent weeks, suspected militants set fire to at least six churches in the northwest of this former British colony. The attacks bring to 13 the numbers of churches set on fire in the Kagera Region alone. No-one has been prosecuted for the crimes.