Grenade attacks as Burundi holds controversial polls

Assailants threw grenades in both the capital Bujumbura and at some provincial voting centres ahead of Monday's parliamentary and local elections, delaying the start of voting in many areas, police and election officials said.

 

Another grenade exploded in the capital shortly after voting began in the latest example of the weeks of violence sparked by President Pierre Nkurunzizaa's defiant bid for a third term.

 

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for the elections to be delayed after the opposition said they would not take part, as Burundi faces its worst crisis since civil war ended nine years ago.

 

The European Union condemned Burundi's "grave" decision to hold elections, saying it would worsen the situation.

 

"The organisation of legislative elections... can only exacerbate the profound crisis which is gripping Burundi," a statement Monday read.

 

Police patrolled the streets of Bujumbura, especially in opposition areas where the worst violence was seen during weeks of protests.

 

"Armed groups tried to attack polling centres... they were shooting and threw grenades, but the police stopped them," deputy police chief Godefroid Bizimana said.

 

In opposition areas, few civilians were seen at polling stations. In some stations, the lines of people queueing were mainly soldiers or police.

 

"The protesters closed roads to block us, but we went with the police," said Annick Niyonkuru, one of the few civilians waiting to vote in the capital's Musaga district.

 

Stations for the parliamentary and local elections opened late in some areas, although election commission spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye insisted that, apart from some delays due to the violence, voting was "going well". -AFP

 

(File Photo: Gallo Images)