2nd LD Writethru: Burundi delays elections following weeks of protests

The Burundian government said Wednesday that the presidential election will be postponed from June 26 to July 15, following weeks of protests over President Pierre Nkurunziza's re-election bid.

The parliamentary election, already delayed once, will be further delayed to June 29, according to a presidential decree.

Presidential spokesman Gervais Abayeho said the decree was issued on Tuesday night and basically approved the electoral commission's proposal to delay the votes.

According to the decree, "parliamentary and communal polls will be held on June 29, the presidential election on July 15 and senatorial elections on July 24."

"The electoral campaign for the presidential election will take place from June 25 to July 12, but will be suspended on June 27-29 and on July 1 (the Independence Day)," said the decree.

The president had been under pressure to delay the polls amid protests, mainly in the capital, over Nkurunziza's bid for a third term.

Burundi has been in turmoil since April 25 when Nkurunziza, who has been in power since 2005, announced that he will run for a third term in the upcoming elections, despite warnings at home and abroad.

Clashes between protesters and police, mainly in the capital Bujumbura, have left more than 30 dead, according to Burundi's civil society groups.

A summit on Burundi crisis that brought together East African leaders in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on May 31, urged a delay to Burundi's elections.

Opponents say Nkurunziza's decision violates the constitution that limits the president to two terms in office.

His supporters however argue that his first term does not count as he was appointed by parliament, not elected by people. Endi