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Burundi leader says country peaceful, warns against ‘encouraging insurrection’

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Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza insisted Wednesday that "security reigns" in the country, after a failed coup and weeks of violent protests at his bid for a third term in power.

His remarks came as security forces fired shots and tear gas in fresh battles with protesters, the latest clashes in weeks of anti-government demonstrations, and as the presidency delayed upcoming parliamentary elections by over a week.

Nkurunziza said the current situation in the capital was not representative of the whole country.

"Peace and security reign over 99.9 percent of Burundian territory and people are going about normally in their activities," the president said in a broadcast on state radio.

One week after a coup led by a top general was crushed -- with soldiers fighting each other on the streets -- security forces on Wednesday again battled to end the anti-government protests that have been raging in parts of the capital since late April.

Protestors throw glass bottles at the police in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 20  2015...
Protestors throw glass bottles at the police in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 20, 2015 during a demonstration against the Burundian President's third term
Carl De Souza, AFP

More than 20 people have died in weeks of clashes with security forces that halted during the coup attempt, but the protests resumed Monday.

In the capital Bujumbura, thousands defied heavy gunfire from police and government orders to call off their protests.

Amid the street chaos Wednesday, one soldier was shot dead by police, raising already acute tensions between the two security forces. One protester was shot in the leg.

In recent days, soldiers have been mainly deployed to end the demos, and they are viewed by many protesters as being more neutral than the more feared police.

A policeman fires teargas towards protestors opposed to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza's...
A policeman fires teargas towards protestors opposed to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term during a demonstration in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 20, 2015
Carl De Souza, AFP

Earlier on Wednesday, the president's office announced that parliamentary polls slated for May 26 were now going to be held on June 5.

There was no mention of rescheduling the June 26 presidential election.

Nkurunziza said the vast majority of the central African country was at peace, and that all of the upcoming votes would take place calmly.

- Media 'encouraging insurrection' -

"The elections will take place in peace and tranquility," Nkurunziza added, but also warned media they risked "encouraging insurrection" in the manner they reported.

"We also take this opportunity to warn Burundian and foreign media who try to disseminate information likely to sow hatred and division among Burundians... no Burundian would want to re-live the tensions of ethnic divisions," he said.

Protestors opposed to the Burundian President's third term during a demonstration in the Musaga...
Protestors opposed to the Burundian President's third term during a demonstration in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 20, 2015
Carl De Souza, AFP

Opposition and rights groups say that Nkurunziza's bid for a third five-year term in power violates the constitution and the terms of the peace deal that brought an end to the country's 13-year civil war in 2006.

But Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader and born-again Christian who believes he has divine backing to lead the country, argues his first term did not count as he was elected by parliament, not directly by the people.

Civil society leader Vital Nshimirimana said the delay of the parliamentary polls was not enough.

"This postponement will have no effect because the fundamental issue remains -- that of the third term of President Pierre Nkurunziza," he told AFP.

"Burundi cannot hold free, transparent and peaceful elections by June 5."

Nkurunziza has been accused by rights groups of launching a campaign of repression against opponents and trying to silence independent media since coup leaders admitted defeat on Friday after fierce fighting with loyalist troops.

But the presidency has dismissed such claims, saying it would never carry out "revenge" raids and promising fair trials for those arrested.

More than 100,000 people have fled to neighbouring nations to escape political violence, according to the United Nations. Cholera has broken out in squalid refugee camps in Tanzania, and Nkurunziza urged people to return.

"Following the attempted coup some Burundians fled to neighbouring countries... we ask them to come back home because peace and security prevail in Burundi," he said.

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza insisted Wednesday that “security reigns” in the country, after a failed coup and weeks of violent protests at his bid for a third term in power.

His remarks came as security forces fired shots and tear gas in fresh battles with protesters, the latest clashes in weeks of anti-government demonstrations, and as the presidency delayed upcoming parliamentary elections by over a week.

Nkurunziza said the current situation in the capital was not representative of the whole country.

“Peace and security reign over 99.9 percent of Burundian territory and people are going about normally in their activities,” the president said in a broadcast on state radio.

One week after a coup led by a top general was crushed — with soldiers fighting each other on the streets — security forces on Wednesday again battled to end the anti-government protests that have been raging in parts of the capital since late April.

Protestors throw glass bottles at the police in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 20  2015...

Protestors throw glass bottles at the police in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 20, 2015 during a demonstration against the Burundian President's third term
Carl De Souza, AFP

More than 20 people have died in weeks of clashes with security forces that halted during the coup attempt, but the protests resumed Monday.

In the capital Bujumbura, thousands defied heavy gunfire from police and government orders to call off their protests.

Amid the street chaos Wednesday, one soldier was shot dead by police, raising already acute tensions between the two security forces. One protester was shot in the leg.

In recent days, soldiers have been mainly deployed to end the demos, and they are viewed by many protesters as being more neutral than the more feared police.

A policeman fires teargas towards protestors opposed to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza's...

A policeman fires teargas towards protestors opposed to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term during a demonstration in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 20, 2015
Carl De Souza, AFP

Earlier on Wednesday, the president’s office announced that parliamentary polls slated for May 26 were now going to be held on June 5.

There was no mention of rescheduling the June 26 presidential election.

Nkurunziza said the vast majority of the central African country was at peace, and that all of the upcoming votes would take place calmly.

– Media ‘encouraging insurrection’ –

“The elections will take place in peace and tranquility,” Nkurunziza added, but also warned media they risked “encouraging insurrection” in the manner they reported.

“We also take this opportunity to warn Burundian and foreign media who try to disseminate information likely to sow hatred and division among Burundians… no Burundian would want to re-live the tensions of ethnic divisions,” he said.

Protestors opposed to the Burundian President's third term during a demonstration in the Musaga...

Protestors opposed to the Burundian President's third term during a demonstration in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura on May 20, 2015
Carl De Souza, AFP

Opposition and rights groups say that Nkurunziza’s bid for a third five-year term in power violates the constitution and the terms of the peace deal that brought an end to the country’s 13-year civil war in 2006.

But Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader and born-again Christian who believes he has divine backing to lead the country, argues his first term did not count as he was elected by parliament, not directly by the people.

Civil society leader Vital Nshimirimana said the delay of the parliamentary polls was not enough.

“This postponement will have no effect because the fundamental issue remains — that of the third term of President Pierre Nkurunziza,” he told AFP.

“Burundi cannot hold free, transparent and peaceful elections by June 5.”

Nkurunziza has been accused by rights groups of launching a campaign of repression against opponents and trying to silence independent media since coup leaders admitted defeat on Friday after fierce fighting with loyalist troops.

But the presidency has dismissed such claims, saying it would never carry out “revenge” raids and promising fair trials for those arrested.

More than 100,000 people have fled to neighbouring nations to escape political violence, according to the United Nations. Cholera has broken out in squalid refugee camps in Tanzania, and Nkurunziza urged people to return.

“Following the attempted coup some Burundians fled to neighbouring countries… we ask them to come back home because peace and security prevail in Burundi,” he said.

AFP
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