3 die in separate attacks ahead of Burundi's polls

Three persons including two civilians and a soldier were killed in two separate attacks that occurred Saturday night in the Burundian capital Bujumbura, the local administration and witnesses told Xinhua on Sunday.

"Two civilians were killed in gunshots that occurred last (Saturday) night at Jabe neighborhood between 21:00 (19:00 GMT) and 03:00 (01:00 GMT). Investigations are underway about the attack. That is why I cannot give you details," said Esperance Ngerageze, Administrator of Bwiza Commune.

Witnesses in Jabe indicated that they could not sleep all night long because of explosions of grenades and gunshots.

Witnesses also said that a soldier shot dead his colleague in the urban commune of Kanyosha around 21:00 (19:00 GMT).

According to them, the soldier first blasted a grenade in a house, seriously injuring the house owner.

The witnesses did not however reveal why the grenade was blasted at that house.

They indicated that the suspect ran away while shooting in many directions and then shot dead his colleague when soldiers attempted to intercept him.

Witnesses also said that the soldier was later captured.

Violence has been on the rise in the east African nation while the country is Monday organizing legislative and local government polls on Monday.

The opposition has announced that it will boycott the polls and called on its members to stay at home.

Polls are to take place after Speaker of the Burundian National Assembly Pie Ntavyohanyuma and Burundian Second Vice-President Gervais Rufyikiri announced on France-based France 24 television channel that they have gone into exile in Belgium, fearing for their security. They are among several officials from the ruling party – the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) - who are against President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term bid. Endi