Two protesters shot dead by police in Burundi

Burundian police shot dead two protesters and wounded at least one other on Sunday, the Red Cross said. The demonstrations were against the president seeking a third term which critics say would violate a constitutional limit of two terms.

Witnesses said police used water cannon, tear gas and in some cases live bullets to disperse demonstrators across Bujumbura. The authorities earlier banned all protests either for or against president Pierre Nkurunziza’s renewed candidacy.

African leaders and western nations have urged Nkurunziza not to run again, and the US and EU have indicated they could take punitive steps if violence erupted as a result.

“We counted two protesters killed by police; four others were injured and one is in coma in hospital after being hit by a bullet,” Burundi Red Cross spokesman Alexis Manirakiza told Reuters.

Police had no immediate comment on the casualties.

Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party nominated Nkurunziza as its presidential candidate on Saturday. – (Reuters)