UN political chief calls for prevention of violence in Burundi

UN political chief Jeffrey Feltman, who is visiting Burundi, on Thursday urged the East African country government to probe and prevent political violence, a UN spokesman said here.

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs made the remarks while meeting with Burundi government representatives, said Stephane Dujarric at a regular briefing.

Feltman underlined that the government "must take concrete steps" to prevent and investigate political violence and killings, as well as violence targeting journalists and other civil society representatives.

Burundi has been in turmoil since last month when President Pierre Nkurunziza, who has been in power for a decade, announced his re-election decision despite warnings at home and abroad.

Situation in Burundi remained volatile and uncertain following protests and a thwarted coup attempt to overthrow President Nkurunziza in mid-May.

Last week, Zedi Feruzi, chairman of the opposition Burundian Union for Peace and Development (UPD- Zigamibanga), and his bodyguard, were reportedly shot dead in the country's capital of Bukumbura. The killings were strongly slammed by the UN.

Dujarric noted that the consultative political dialogue resumed Thursday under the facilitation of UN envoy Said Djinnit with all parties being represented. A UN advisor for the prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng also arrived in Bujumbura Thursday. Endite