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| Burundi elections: Pierre Nkurunziza seeks third term amid violence | Burundi elections: Pierre Nkurunziza seeks third term amid violence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| People in Burundi are voting amid widespread tension over President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to stand for a third consecutive term. | People in Burundi are voting amid widespread tension over President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to stand for a third consecutive term. |
| Polls opened at 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT), after a night of gunfire and explosions claimed two lives in the capital Bujumbura. | Polls opened at 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT), after a night of gunfire and explosions claimed two lives in the capital Bujumbura. |
| The president's critics says the vote is unconstitutional, as he is only entitled to stand for two terms only. | The president's critics says the vote is unconstitutional, as he is only entitled to stand for two terms only. |
| The government accuses the opposition of provoking violent protests. | The government accuses the opposition of provoking violent protests. |
| The BBC's Maud Jullien in Bujumbura says shooting was continuing in the streets on Monday morning. | The BBC's Maud Jullien in Bujumbura says shooting was continuing in the streets on Monday morning. |
| "Bursts of gunfire could be heard in at least one district of the capital, as polling stations were about to open," she added. | |
| A policeman and a civilian are believed to have died. | A policeman and a civilian are believed to have died. |
| The president's office has described the latest protests as terrorist acts intended to disrupt the election. | The president's office has described the latest protests as terrorist acts intended to disrupt the election. |
| Chief communications advisor Willy Nyamitwe said: "People do it to intimidate voters. They don't want the voters to go to the polls." | Chief communications advisor Willy Nyamitwe said: "People do it to intimidate voters. They don't want the voters to go to the polls." |
| About 1,000 people are fleeing into Tanzania each day to escape the violence, according to medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). | |
| It said many families were crossing "on foot without any belongings". | It said many families were crossing "on foot without any belongings". |
| None of the president's seven challengers has made a significant impact, correspondents say. | None of the president's seven challengers has made a significant impact, correspondents say. |
| In addition several leading opposition parties have said they would boycott the vote. | In addition several leading opposition parties have said they would boycott the vote. |
| Mr Nkurunziza's main challenger, Agathon Rwasa, is registered as an independent candidate as his faction of the FNL party is not recognised by the government. | Mr Nkurunziza's main challenger, Agathon Rwasa, is registered as an independent candidate as his faction of the FNL party is not recognised by the government. |
| Critics say that a win for President Nkurunziza would be a hollow triumph that will result in him governing a bitterly-divided nation. | Critics say that a win for President Nkurunziza would be a hollow triumph that will result in him governing a bitterly-divided nation. |
| "The government has opted to isolate itself and go ahead with pseudo-elections," prominent opposition figure Leonce Ngendakumana was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying after negotiations on the crisis broke down on Sunday. | "The government has opted to isolate itself and go ahead with pseudo-elections," prominent opposition figure Leonce Ngendakumana was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying after negotiations on the crisis broke down on Sunday. |
| Another opposition figure, Jean Minani, accused the government of being "very irresponsible". | Another opposition figure, Jean Minani, accused the government of being "very irresponsible". |
| "They have refused to save Burundi from sliding into an abyss," he said. | "They have refused to save Burundi from sliding into an abyss," he said. |
| Tensions | Tensions |
| But officials close to the president - a former guerrilla fighter, teacher and born-again Christian - argue that he is a man of the people and the only person capable of rebuilding the country after decades of civil war. | But officials close to the president - a former guerrilla fighter, teacher and born-again Christian - argue that he is a man of the people and the only person capable of rebuilding the country after decades of civil war. |
| They say that he has an instinct for survival and is determined to remain in the presidential palace. | They say that he has an instinct for survival and is determined to remain in the presidential palace. |
| Tensions between Burundi's ethnic Hutu majority - comprising some 85% of the 10.5 million population - and the country's Tutsi minority have flared up regularly since independence from Belgium in 1962. | Tensions between Burundi's ethnic Hutu majority - comprising some 85% of the 10.5 million population - and the country's Tutsi minority have flared up regularly since independence from Belgium in 1962. |
| Mr Nkurunziza led a Hutu rebel group fighting the Tutsi-dominated army until a peace deal let to him becoming president in 2005. | Mr Nkurunziza led a Hutu rebel group fighting the Tutsi-dominated army until a peace deal let to him becoming president in 2005. |
| The Constitutional Court has backed his argument that his first term in office did not count towards the two-term limit, as he was elected by MPs. | The Constitutional Court has backed his argument that his first term in office did not count towards the two-term limit, as he was elected by MPs. |
| The elections are being held following weeks of protests over President Nkurunziza's plan to seek a third term. | The elections are being held following weeks of protests over President Nkurunziza's plan to seek a third term. |
| In May, rebel generals tried to overthrow him in a coup. After they failed, a rebellion began in the north of the country. | In May, rebel generals tried to overthrow him in a coup. After they failed, a rebellion began in the north of the country. |
| The African Union (AU) has not sent observers - the first time it has taken such a stance against a member state. | The African Union (AU) has not sent observers - the first time it has taken such a stance against a member state. |
| Some 3.8 million Burundians are eligible to vote. | Some 3.8 million Burundians are eligible to vote. |