1 dead in Burundi unrest; leader delays parliamentary vote

Burundi police fired live bullets, tear gas and tossed a grenade Wednesday to disperse hundreds of protesters angry over the president’s bid for a third term in office. One soldier died while trying to stop the police barrage, a captain said.Amid the unrest, President Pierre Nkurunziza postponed the country’s parliamentary election from May 26 until June 5. The slain soldier was part of a group of army troops trying to stop the police from firing at protesters who were throwing stones in the capital’s Nyakabinga neighborhood, Capt. Dismas Nduwamungu told The Associated Press.

99.9 percent of the country’s citizens are leaving in peace and going on with their business. We are urging them (the protesters) to change.

President Nkurunziza

Protesters say Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in the June 26 presidential election is illegal because the constitution only allows for two, five-year terms. Nkurunziza maintains he can run for a third term because parliament — not the people — elected him for his first one.

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