At least seven killed in Burundi shootings, blasts

23 November 2015 - 10:27 By News24
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At least seven people were killed in Burundian capital Bujumbura, a rights activist said, as the east African country plunges deeper into a spiral of political violence.

"Most of shootings and explosions happened [on Saturday] night in Bujumbura," Anschaire Nikoyagize, the president of the Burundian League for Human Rights, told dpa.

"We spoke to some of relatives of those killed who told us their relatives were killed by people in police uniforms," Nikoyagize said.

"The information we have is that those killed are thought to be opposing Nkurunziza's third term. Seven bodies have been counted so far," Nikoyagize said, referring to President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Activists say more than 240 people have been killed in protests and attacks since April, when Nkurunziza announced his intention to seek a third term in office despite a two-term limit set by the constitution.

The president went on to win a July election boycotted by the opposition.

More than 200,000 people have fled the violence to neighbouring countries.

The opposition has warned that peace can only be restored if Nkurunziza steps down and calls fresh elections.

Source: DPA

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