Burundi postpones elections for a week following unrest

Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza has signed a decree to postpone parliamentary elections for a week.

Mr Nkurunziza’s decision to delay the elections from May 26 until early June followed a request from the election commission, said Willy Nyamitwe, the presidential adviser for media.

The postponement comes after a failed coup last week which was triggered by weeks of unrest over Mr Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office.

Police were back on the streets today battling protesters.

The army had been deployed on Monday to tackle protesters, putting the military in a difficult position as it had previously remained neutral over the anti-Nkurunziza demonstrations.

Protesters say Mr Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in the presidential election is illegal because the constitution only allows two five-year terms.