Police tear-gas protesters campaigning against president's 3rd term bid

onnaedo

April 27, 2015 3:55 PM

Reports say angry protesters had thrown stones and lit tyres, prompting police to respond with tear gas, water cannon and live ammunition, also blocking access to the centre of the capital.

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Protesters campaigning against Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term in office were earlier today fired with tear gas by men of the police force.

In addition, security forces stopped private radio stations from doing live broadcasts about the demonstrations.

BBC reports that thousands defied a ban on protests to take to the streets of the capital Bujumbura for a second day, even after at least 3 people were killed yesterday, Sunday as police shot live ammunition in the air to disperse them.

Many demonstrators have been detained.

President Nkurunziza who is a former rebel leader has served two terms as president, coming to the office at the end of the conflict.

Although, Burundi's constitution only allows the president to be elected twice, Nkurunziza's supporters argue he is eligible for another term since he was appointed by parliament in 2005.

But the opposition says the bid threatens a peace deal that ended the 12-year civil war in 2005 which claimed the lives of over 300,000 people.

Meanwhile, the United States has reportedly condemned the president's bid for a third term saying in a press statement that the country is "losing an historic opportunity to strengthen its democracy".

onnaedo