Burundi capital sees renewed clashes

BUJUMBURA 

Clashes between security forces and demonstrators opposed to President Pierre Nkurinziza's bid for a third term in office resumed Friday in the Burundian capital Bujumbura.

Protests resumed after a brief period of calm on Thursday evening following clashes between pro- and anti-Nkurinziza troops.

In Washington, the State Department called on Nkurinziza to refrain from seeking a third term in office, saying that doing so further imperils the country.

“The president's decision to announce his candidacy for a third term has and will continue to exacerbate instability, and potentially foment violence in the country”, spokesman Jeff Rathke told reporters. “This threatens the viability of the Burundian government, and it increases the risk of violence and insecurity that could threaten donor support”.

On Wednesday, a group of generals led by former intelligence chief Godefroid Niyombare announced the dismissal of Nkurunziza, who was in Tanzania at the time to attend a regional summit.

The following day, however, Nkurunziza returned to Burundi, announcing that the coup attempt had failed.

Sources close to the Burundian presidency told Anadolu Agency that Nkurunziza had already arrived in Bujumbura from his northern hometown of Ngozi and was expected to give a speech later Friday.

Earlier Friday, Burundian security forces arrested three leaders of the failed coup attempt.

Burundi has been dogged by instability since April 26, when anti-Nkurunziza demonstrators took to the streets to protest the president's plan to seek a third term in office.

The country's opposition says Nkurunziza does not have the right to seek a third term, citing Burundi's constitution, which limits the number of terms a president can serve to two.