Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — Representatives from the Catholic Church and the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), the Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) and the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) Friday appealed to politicians to be tolerant in a bid to install democracy in the country.

The appeal was contained in a joint statement the clerics issued Friday following a meeting during which they discussed Tanzania's current political situation in the aftermath of the 27 January bloody riots in the islands of Pemba and Zanzibar that left 23 people dead.

The statement also called on the government to prevent further bloodshed.

The clerics join a long list of donor countries and human rights groups which have condemned President Benjamin Mkapa's government for human rights violations.

"We appeal to government and political parties to refrain from violence and resort to mutual dialogue," the statement said.

This is the first time that religious leaders of different faiths have taken a common stand against the government with regard to the freedom of assembly, following the bloody Zanzibar riots last month.

Official reports said 23 people were killed while CUF leaders, maintain that the riots claimed over 50 lives.

Some 700 people, mainly from Pemba Island, are reported to have fled to neighbouring Kenya and are residing at the port of Mombasa.

"Tanzania has eroded her long cherished fame of being a haven of peace," the clerics said in their statement.

Cardinal Pengo was the first religious leader to break silence on the Zanzibar massacres. He described the killings as "writings on the wall" for Mkapa's regime.

He added: "Our country's political trend showed signs leading to violence over which I had warned before, but blood- thirsty people could not take heed of my warning."

The killings took place after violent protesters clashed with policemen in a demonstration banned by the government .

"The blood of innocent Tanzanians was being spilled for the political gains of few individuals," said the cardinal.

"I pray that both the government and political parties will heed our sermons as God's messengers."

Signatories to the statement include the outspoken Archbishop Polycarp Cardinal Pengo of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Alhaj Mahami Rajab Kundya of the BAKWATA and retired Bishop Elinaza Sendoro of the CCT.