File Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. (Agence France-Presse)
United Nations, United States:
Elections in Burundi should be postponed, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said today, after opposition parties announced they were boycotting the upcoming polls.
The central African nation has been plunged into violent turmoil since April when the president launched a drive to serve a third consecutive five-year term.
Tens of thousands of people have fled Burundi seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled for Monday and the presidential vote on July 15.
In a statement, Ban said Burundi needed a delay to create "a conducive environment for inclusive, peaceful and transparent elections."
Opponents say President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for another term is unconstitutional and violates a peace accord that ended 13 years of civil war in 2006.
The central African nation has been plunged into violent turmoil since April when the president launched a drive to serve a third consecutive five-year term.
Tens of thousands of people have fled Burundi seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled for Monday and the presidential vote on July 15.
In a statement, Ban said Burundi needed a delay to create "a conducive environment for inclusive, peaceful and transparent elections."
Opponents say President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for another term is unconstitutional and violates a peace accord that ended 13 years of civil war in 2006.
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