Government delays presidential vote to July 15 after unrest

Burundi's president has issued a decree delaying the presidential election to July 15 from June 26, his spokesman said on Wednesday, after six weeks of protests sparked by Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in office.

"He has published the decree," spokesman Gervais Abayeho said, adding that the parliamentary vote - already delayed once - would now go ahead on June 29 about a month later than initially planned.

The revised dates were proposed by the electoral commission CENI. Opponents have criticised the election body, saying it has not been neutral in the election debate.