Burundi polls not free or credible, UN says
The United Nations (UN) observers have ruled that the recently held parliamentary elections in Burundi were not free or credible.
Farhan Haq, a UN spokesman, said on Thursday that the elections were not conducted in a credible political atmosphere and were marred by violence.
"The overall environment was not conducive for free, credible and inclusive elections," the UN official said.
The elections on June 29 went ahead in the African country despite an international outcry and are slated to be followed by a presidential vote on July 17. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had earlier called on Burundi to postpone the vote after the opposition announced a boycott, but the government rejected his appeal.
The opposition parties had said that they would boycott the elections until conditions for "peaceful, transparent and inclusive" polls are met.
Burundi's national election commission has claimed a huge turnout in the general elections, despite many polling stations seeming to be quiet.
On Wednesday, violent clashes between Burundian police and an armed group in the capital city of Bujumbura left at least six people dead, including one officer.
The fresh wave of violence comes as the country awaits the results of the June 29 elections.
The central African nation plunged into violence in late April after President Pierre Nkurunziza announced a plan to run for a third consecutive five-year term.
Opponents say the decision is unconstitutional and violates the 2000 Arusha Accord, which provided a framework to end the civil war in the landlocked country.
More than 80 people have been killed and some 1,000 jailed in Burundi over the past months. Violence has also sent 127,000 Burundi nationals fleeing for their lives into neighboring countries.
JR/HSN/HMV
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