Protesters Clash with Police in Burundi for Third Day, 6 Dead

Burundi has been rocked by violent protests that left six dead in clashes between police and demonstrators, local media reported Tuesday.

The protests began Sunday shortly after the ruling party designated the current President Pierre Nkurunziza as its next candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. Nkurunziza's opponents argue that his bid for a third term is unconstitutional as the law of the country does not allow any president more than two terms.

"We wanted to demonstrate peacefully in the city center, but police prevented us," said Fidele, one demonstrator told AFP. "So we erected barricades to prevent the police from coming into the neighborhood."

Hundreds of people were arrested as the clashes continued on for three days. The police used teargas and water canon to disperse the protesters. The government banned all protests and deployed troops who were firing live ammunition. According to reports, some of the casualties were shot dead at close range, while hundreds were injured.

President Nkurunziza has been the head of the state since 2005 and has served two five-year terms. The president and his supporters say that Nkurunziza's first term was voted by the parliament and not by a popular vote — something the constitution requires for the validity of the presidential elections — therefore a third term is legitimate.

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Nkurunziza was elected president of the transitional government in 2005 after a 12-year civil war, which left hundreds of thousands dead. The country has seen a relatively stable period during the tenure of the current president. However, many critics say that his government and ruling party have been cracking down on free speech and dissent.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement Tuesday urging an immediate end to the violence and stated that he had dispatched his special envoy to the country in order to conduct talks with the president, the ruling party and opposition figures.

The protesters included some senior police officials who urged the protesters to refrain from violence. A major independent radio station has been shut down by the government. Many within Nkurunziza's own party and government also object to his bid for a third term in office.

The president vowed that he would not back down and would still seek to remain in power in the next elections scheduled for June 26. 

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