BUJUMBURA: Thous­ands of anti-government protesters in Burundi marched on the streets of the capital Bujumbura Friday, defying one of the heaviest pushes by police to end weeks of demonstrations.

Protesters also torched election materials in two separate attacks south of the capital, electoral commission spokesman Prosper Ntahorwmiye said, destroying voting booths and ballot boxes. “Everything was burned,” Ntahorwmiye said.

At least two protesters were shot dead and eight wounded in clashes on Thursday with police, the latest victims of the unrest in which more than 20 people have died, triggered by President Pierre Nkur­unziza’s bid for a third term.

The crisis, which began in late April after the ruling party nominated Nkurunziza to stand again in the June 26 presidential election, deepened last week when a top general staged a failed coup attempt.

Parliamentary polls, initially set for May 26, have been postponed to June 5.

Nkurunziza said in an address to the nation late on Wednesday that most of the central African country was secure and that upcoming parliamentary and presidential votes would be peaceful.But on Friday morning, protesters shouted and blew whistles to try to encourage others to come out onto the streets. By late afternoon, thousands had answered the call. Some looted a beer truck as they celebrated, despite gunfire from police.

“And the government says there is no demonstration in Bujumbura!” said Adolphe, 46, a civil engineer and local resident.

But protesters also announced a two-day weekend truce “to allow the people to bury with dignity those who died for democracy,” civil society leader Pacifique Nininahazwe said, but adding a warning that “protests will resume on Monday with even more force”.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2015

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