Police in Tanzania have warned people against sharing online images that might "cause panic" now that internet access has been restored after election-related protests.

The country's main opposition party CHADEMA says it has documented a huge death toll in the protests, which broke out during last Wednesday's election over the disqualification of prominent opposition candidates.

President Suluhu Hassan, who was sworn back into office on Monday after being credited with 98% of the vote, acknowledged people died, but her government has called the opposition's death toll hugely exaggerated.

Photos and videos circulating on social media showed the bodies of people who users said had been shot during the demonstrations. Reuters could not authenticate the images.

Normalcy resumes in Dar es Salaam

Tanzanian cell phone users received a text message from the police shortly before a five-day internet shutdown was lifted late on Monday.

The message states: "Avoid sharing pictures or videos that cause panic or degrade a person's dignity. Doing so is a criminal offence, and if identified, strict legal action will be taken."

Meanwhile, life in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam was returning to normal on Tuesday with fewer police and soldiers patrolling the streets after police lifted an overnight curfew first imposed on election day.

President Suluhu Hassan has said her government "respects human rights"