Burundi's police kill 1, raise anger of protesters against president's third term

Xinhua

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Three persons suspected to be policemen Tuesday shot dead a young man at his home in Buyenzi neighborhood in the Burundian capital Bujumbura, raising anger of protesters who barricaded roads and burned tires, witnesses said.

"Three men, one of them in a police uniform, broke out in a compound at the 15th Avenue in Buyenzi at about 12:20 (10:20 GMT). They urged him to get out of his house and he resisted because the three men wanted to arrest him. Then, one of the three men shot him dead," witnesses told Xinhua.

After the crime, hundreds of residents in Buyenzi neighborhood took to the streets barricading roads and burning tires.

They were also shouting that they are "against the third term bid" of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Police agents used tear gas to disperse them but they continued demonstrations until late in the evening.

Demonstrations against the third term bid of President Nkurunziza also took place in other neighborhoods of the capital Bujumbura including Cibitoke, Mutakura, Ngagara and Kanyosha.

In Cibitoke, witnesses said that protesters beat a young man suspected to be a ruling party youth (Imbonerakure) accused of showing police agents people who are leaders during demonstrations.

Witnesses also indicated that on Tuesday night, a soldier succumbed to his injuries after he was seriously injured at Mutakura when he was shot by unidentified people who were reportedly aboard an ambulance.

Burundi has been in turmoil since April 25 when Nkurunziza, who has been in power since 2005, announced that he will run for a third term in the upcoming elections, despite warnings at home and abroad.

Clashes between protesters and police, mainly in the capital Bujumbura, have left more than 30 dead, according to Burundi's civil society groups.

A summit on Burundi crisis that brought together East African leaders in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 31, urged a delay to Burundi's elections.

Opponents say Nkurunziza's decision violates the constitution that limits the president to two terms in office.

His supporters however argue that his first term does not count as he was appointed by parliament, not elected by people. Enditem