Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has claimed an early victory for
his ruling CNDD-FDD party in the country's controversial parliamentary
poll, despite the opposition of domestic civic groups, the African Union (AU)
and the UN.
About 3.8 million people had been expected to vote; however, turnout
was low in and around the capital city of Bujumbura, partly because the
election was boycotted by 17 opposition groups.
The electoral commission expects the results to be announced within
three days, but is not commenting on voter turnout.
The AU and the UN have also urged that next month's presidential
election be delayed, but Nkurunziza has insisted that the vote will go
ahead as scheduled on July 15.
Burundi has been in turmoil since April, when Nkurunziza said he
would seek a third term, triggering weeks of protests, and an abortive military
coup last month.
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| Burundian soldiers (seen above) deployed to the streets of Bujumbura |
Nkurunziza's opponents say his decision to stand again violates the
constitution as well as a peace deal that ended a civil war in 2005.
Nkurunziza has cited a constitutional court ruling saying he can run
again, although the court's vice president, another of those who have fled,
said he and others had been pressured to rule in favour of Nkurunziza.
Dozens, including an opposition leader, have been killed in
months of unrest, and the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, says 127,000 have
fled the country.
The international community fears the looming Presidential election
will destabilize Burundi and the wider East African region.
The AU withheld its monitors in a gesture of denying the legitimacy of
the election results and also hinted at further actions.