Burundi's new election schedule to be announced soon: gov't spokesman

Burundian government spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba said in a statement Tuesday that a new schedule for Burundi's elections will be announced very soon.

"The government of Burundi has already instructed competent technical services to implement the recommendation of the East African Community (EAC) heads of state summit on the postponement of elections in Burundi for at least one and half months. The postponement of elections must however abide by requirements of avoiding the institutional vacuum," said Nzobonariba.

Chairman of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) Pierre Claver Ndayicariye also said that a new election schedule will be announced by competent institutions in the two coming days.

An urgent regional summit on Burundi held on May 31 in Dar-es- Salaam, Tanzania recommended the postponement of Burundi's elections for at least one and half months to allow a more favorable climate for elections and to disarm youth groups.

Initially, the first two polls including legislative and communal elections had been slated to be held simultaneously on May 26, but were postponed for June 5 in the aftermath of a failed coup plot staged on May 13 by Major General Godefroid Niyombare whose whereabouts are still unknown.

Meanwhile, two protesters were injured, one of them seriously at Musaga neighborhood in the Burundian capital Bujumbura as protests resumed Tuesday.

Witnesses said the protesters were injured when policemen used live bullets to disperse them.

According to witnesses, about ten protesters were arrested during the clashes at Musaga.

Protests against the third term bid of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza were also staged in other neighborhoods including Ngagara, Kanyosha, Cibitoke and Nyakabiga. Witnesses indicated that policemen in Ngagara fired tear gas in a house while people were inside. Endi