Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete has condemned the violence between Christian and Muslim residents of Buseresere that led to the beheading of a pastor and the injury of several other people on Monday (February 11th), Tanzania's The Citizen reported.

"We have lived for more than 50 years without having quarrels related to our beliefs as Muslims and Christians," he said, addressing supporters of the governing party Chama Cha Mapinduzi in Dodoma. "We have lived peacefully and helped one another in times of need. So we should ask ourselves, 'Why now?'"

Kikwete pledged that his government would bring those responsible for the violence to justice. He called for the government, religious leaders and citizens to assess in which direction the country is heading.

"But the main responsibility is on religious leaders who should be very careful of what they are preaching," he said. "If they preach love and peace these things will never happen but if they preach hate they will never end ... it is their duty to determine what they preach."