Grenade blast injures 4 soldiers in Burundi's capital

Four Burundian soldiers including a captain were Friday evening injured in a grenade explosion at Musaga in the south of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, the Burundian police deputy-spokesman told Xinhua on Saturday.

"It was about 19:30 (17:30 GMT) when soldiers on a night patrol duty were attacked by unidentified criminals who blasted a grenade at the First Avenue at Musaga. Four soldiers including a captain were injured during the attack," said Burundian Police Deputy-Spokesman Moise Nkurunziza.

According to him, the victims' colleagues also opened fire but no one was injured or killed during the exchange of gunfire between soldiers and the gunmen.

Meanwhile, a corpse of a man was discovered Saturday morning in a valley separating Gasekebuye and Gikoto in Musaga zone.

The man, killed by unidentified persons, was identified as a resident at Gikoto.

Musaga is one of the neighborhoods that held fierce protests against the third term of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Burundi is facing a political turmoil that broke out since April 2015 following the announcement by Burundian President Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.

His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted into a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup in May 2015.

Over 400 persons are reported to have been killed since then while some 240,000 citizens sought exile in neighboring countries. Endit