Lilongwe , Malawi ( CNN ) -- Twelve people have died in national protests that erupted in Malawi , government officials said as demonstrations continued for a second day Thursday . Nine people died in Mzuzu , in the northern part of Malawi , on Wednesday , Ministry of Health spokesman Henry Chimbali said . Another died in Karonga district , also in the northern region . It was not immediately clear how the 10 died , but officials were investigating , Chimbali said . Sources at Mzuzu Central Hospital who requested anonymity said the victims had been shot . Two other people were fatally shot in Blantyre in the southern part of the nation , police spokesman Superintendent Davie Chingwalu said . Amnesty International called for an immediate investigation into the Mzuzu deaths , asserting that security forces were responsible . `` At least 44 other people , including six children , are being treated for gunshot wounds at Mzuzu Central Hospital , '' the human rights organization said in a statement . The protests began Wednesday as people demanded immediate action from the government on Malawi 's economy and government issues . The East African nation is facing persistent fuel shortages , foreign exchange reserve shortages and frequent power blackouts , among other problems . In addition , anti-government demonstrators have accused President Bingu wa Mutharika of dragging the nation back into the dictatorship era , citing the passage of bills they say impinge on citizen rights as well as the expulsion in April of British envoy Fergus Cochrane-Dyet . The expulsion has cost Malawi dearly , as Britain has suspended direct budget support for the nation . According to the BBC , Cochrane-Dyet was told to leave Malawi in April after he was quoted in a leaked diplomatic cable as saying Mutharika was `` becoming ever more autocratic and intolerant of criticism . '' Mutharika spoke Thursday as the protests continued . `` As a leader , I am ready to have a roundtable discussion with you , '' he said in an address . `` I call upon everyone to stop vandalizing people 's property and beating up others . Get yourselves organized and notify us so that we can chart the way forward . '' In a statement , organizations that had planned the protests also appealed for calm , noting that the demonstrations were meant for Wednesday and that continued protests Thursday were illegal . The country 's army was assisting in quelling the protests Thursday , leading to relative calm . More than 200 people arrested in the Malawian capital of Lilongwe face charges ranging from arson to property damage . Police were seen harassing and beating civil society leaders , opposition political leaders and journalists , leading to injuries . `` When the police use firearms , they must minimize injury and respect human life , '' Erwin van der Borght , Amnesty International 's director for Africa , said in the organization 's statement . `` It is high time that President Mutharika 's government addresses the wider human rights and political concerns that gave rise to this situation . '' The United States condemned Wednesday 's use of force by Malawian authorities to prevent peaceful demonstrations and a ban on private radio stations reporting on the demonstrations . In a statement , U.S. State Department Acting Deputy Spokeswoman Heide Bronke Fulton said U.S. officials were also `` disturbed by reports of violence targeting individuals based on their political or social affiliations . The government 's attempt to prohibit its citizens from marching , and the Communications Regulatory Authority 's ban on independent media coverage undermine democracy and the rule of law that Malawians cherish . '' She urged restraint from both sides . `` We call on the people and the Government of Malawi to remain committed to the principles of democracy and to express disagreements through peaceful means , '' she said .
NEW : United States urges calm from both sides . The protests began Wednesday and continued Thursday . They are demanding government action on issues including food shortages . The president tells protesters he is ready for action , but urges a halt to violence .