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1st LD Writethru: Senior Burundi army officer shot dead at army chief's office

Xinhua, March 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

A senior Burundian army officer was shot dead on Tuesday morning in the compound of the army chief of staff's office in the capital Bujumbura, an official statement has said.

Lieutenant Colonel Darius Ikurakure was assassinated by "a criminal in military uniform", who later ran away "via a hospital" close to the office, according to the statement issued by Army Chief of Staff, Prime Niyongabo.

The shooting took place when most staff members were not at the office as it was lunchtime, the statement said.

Soldiers, who pursued the shooter, only managed to get his gun, but an investigation has been launched to identify him.

The army chief urged soldiers to remain united and to resist any form of "manipulation aimed at the destruction of the army".

Ikurakure was the commander of Muzinda military barrack in the province of Bubanza, some 15 km west of Bujumbura.

He was in charge of operations against insurgents at the Bujumbura neighborhoods of Mutakura and Cibitoke after protests erupted in April last year against President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term.

Nkurunziza survived a coup attempt in May, and won re-election in July.

Violence sparked by his move, which opponents term as unconstitutional, has left more than 400 people dead. Endit