Burundi President Says To Run For Office One Last Time

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza said on Wednesday that his next term in office will be the last.



He said in a televised address that he had reviewed a recent decision by his country's Constitutional Court that he could run in the June presidential election.



"If the people of Burundi give me confidence this time, it will be my last term in office," Nkurunziza said.



He called on opposition leaders and his country's civil society to stop some "practices", including the use of children in protests.



Hours ago, Burundian police arrested opposition leader Audifax Ndabitoreye and accused him of participating in a "rebellion."



Burundi's opposition and civil society are yet to comment on the president's speech.



Burundi has been rocked by protest since late April, when the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy named Nkurunziza its candidate for the presidential polls in June.



At least 13 people, including two policemen, have been killed – and at least 100 injured – since protests erupted in late April.



Around 400 people have also been jailed since the protests broke out, according to figures given by Burundian authorities.



Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, has been in power since 2005, when he was appointed by parliament following a peace deal that ended a 12-year civil war.



He won 2010 presidential polls after the country's main opposition parties boycotted the vote amid concerns it would be rigged in Nkurunziza's favor.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Bujumbura