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Burundi elections: 'Grenade' targets polling station | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A grenade has been thrown at a polling station at the start of Burundi's parliamentary election, witnesses say. | |
Elections are being held despite an opposition boycott and weeks of protests over President Pierre Nkurunziza's plan to seek a third term. | |
Electoral commission spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye told the BBC that he was unaware of any incidents. | |
The African Union (AU) has not sent observers - the first time it has taken such a stance against a member state. | |
Presidential elections are due next month. | |
Gunfire has been heard nightly in the capital, Bujumbura, and scores of people have been killed in unrest since a failed coup attempt last month. | Gunfire has been heard nightly in the capital, Bujumbura, and scores of people have been killed in unrest since a failed coup attempt last month. |
Several polling stations have been attacked in the capital and in the provinces, according to police officials quoted by the AFP news agency on Monday. | |
Africa live: Latest news updates | |
President Nkurunziza in profile | |
What’s behind the coup bid? | |
One resident in the Kinindo district told the BBC's Maud Jullien that there had been gunfire and he was too scared to venture out. | |
Witnesses told her the grenade was thrown at 0800 local time (0600 GMT) in Musaga where support for the opposition is strong. | |
Voters queued up in several neighbourhoods seen as ruling party strongholds, while in many others, where there have been months of protests against the president's bid for a third term in office, almost no-one showed up to vote. | |
The electoral commission spokesman said the vote was going smoothly. | |
The AU said conditions for a free and fair vote have not been met. | |
The European Union has also withdrawn its election observers, saying the lack of basic conditions to ensure the vote's credibility would only worsen the crisis in the country. | |
The AU and the UN had called for the parliamentary election to be postponed. But the government rejected the demands, saying conditions were stable enough for a vote, while a delay could create a dangerous political vacuum. | |
The presidential election was due in June but was put back to 15 July after pressure from regional leaders. | The presidential election was due in June but was put back to 15 July after pressure from regional leaders. |
Many in Bujumbura say the unrest has prevented them from registering to vote, adding that they feel the outcome of the process is already known. | Many in Bujumbura say the unrest has prevented them from registering to vote, adding that they feel the outcome of the process is already known. |
Several leading opposition parties have said they will boycott the election. | |
On Sunday, the speaker of parliament, Pie Ntavyohanyuma, said he had left the country because he feared he would be killed. | On Sunday, the speaker of parliament, Pie Ntavyohanyuma, said he had left the country because he feared he would be killed. |
Tensions in Burundi have forced more than 100,000 people to flee this year. | Tensions in Burundi have forced more than 100,000 people to flee this year. |
The opposition says Mr Nkurunziza's attempt to run for office again contravenes the constitution, which states a president can only serve two terms. | The opposition says Mr Nkurunziza's attempt to run for office again contravenes the constitution, which states a president can only serve two terms. |
But Mr Nkurunziza's supporters argue that he is entitled to another term because he was first elected by parliament in 2005 - not voters. The Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the president. | But Mr Nkurunziza's supporters argue that he is entitled to another term because he was first elected by parliament in 2005 - not voters. The Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the president. |
Some 3.8 million Burundians are eligible to vote. | Some 3.8 million Burundians are eligible to vote. |