Debris and burning tyres were scattered in several streets of Moroni and the Indian Ocean archipelago’s largest street market lay deserted on the morning after the disputed poll results were announced.

Government spokesman Houmed Msaidie, speaking to AFP, accused the opposition – which has denounced former military ruler Assoumani’s election win as a fraud – of organising the protests.

“There have been arrests, but I can’t give you the figure for the moment. It’s totally normal when there are people out there who want to disturb public order,” Msaidie said.

There have been no reports of deadly violence, but the Comoros – a three-island chain that is home to around 870,000 people – is politically volatile and has seen 20 coups or attempted coups in its short history since independence in 1975.

Police, gendarmes, and armed soldiers were deployed in large numbers as the day began. They used tear gas to drive civilians from the streets and back into their homes.

In the working-class Coulee district in the north of the city, groups of youths threw stones at the troops, but many residents were making ready to flee, anticipating further tension.

“Everyone is gone. I’m going too. I was tear-gassed,” said Amina, a stallholder in the normally bustling Volo-Volo market, now just rows of empty wooden stands.

According to official results released yesterday, Assoumani, a 65-year-old former coup leader turned civilian president, was re-elected in Sunday’s first-round election with 62.97%.

However, the official turnout was an unexpectedly low 16% and supporters of the five defeated opposition candidates have cried foul, alleging ballot-stuffing and fraud.