The U.N. human rights office called on Zimbabwe’s government on Friday to “stop the crackdown against protesters” and “excessive use of force” by security forces including firing live ammunition.

Ravina Shamdasani, U.N. human rights spokeswoman, denounced allegations of “generalised intimidation and harassment” by security forces in night-time door-to-door searches, beatings by police and the shutting down of Internet and social media.

“Doctors’ associations say more than 60 people were treated in hospital for gunshot wounds, this is not way to react to the expression of economic grievances by the population,” she said.

Zimbabwe under internet blackout as police patrol streets

Zimbabwe was under an internet blackout on Friday as authorities extended a communications ban to cover emails, while civilians ventured outside to stock up on food after days of deadly protests over fuel price hikes.

The government has said three people died during demonstrations that broke out on Monday after President Emmerson Mnangagwa raised fuel prices by 150 percent. Lawyers and activists say the toll was much higher and that security forces used violence and carried out mass arrests to quell the unrest.

As life returned to a semblance of normality in Harare, police continued to patrol the capital’s streets, and Jacob Mafume, spokesman for the main Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition party, said he feared the blackout was a prelude to more violence.

(Reuters)