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Six killed, several injured in Burundi violence: Police

Monday, 16 November 2015 11:15 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 16 November 2015 11:16 AM ]

Local residents look at the OcalKing Star Cyber Bar in the Bwiza district of Bujumbura on November 14, 2015 after a grenade attack that left one person injured and one dead. (AFP photo)

At least six people have been killed and several others wounded in violence in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura.

Burundian police said on Monday that six people had been confirmed dead in attacks overnight.

"There have been several armed criminal attacks in many neighborhoods of Bujumbura which were apparently coordinated," Police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said.

According to officials, four people were killed in a shooting and two others lost their lives in a separate attack.

About seven civilians and three police forces were also wounded in the attacks.

Burundi plunged into turmoil back in April, when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his bid to compete for a third presidential term. The decision was denounced by the opposition, arguing that the move was contrary to the constitution, which only allows two successive presidential terms.

Many demonstrations against Nkurunziza were held following his announcement to run for a third term. The situation also escalated after the controversial presidential elections in July retained the president in power.

Some 200 people have been killed since the outbreak of violence in April.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al Hussein cautioned in September that the country risks sliding back into civil war.

A 12-year civil war, which ended in 2005, between Hutu rebels and a Tutsi-led army killed about 300,000 people in Burundi.

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