Protests continue in Burundi amid calls to halt elections

(Vatican Radio) More than 100 people gathered in Burundi’s capital Bujumbura Tuesday in protest of president Pierre Nkurunziza and his bid for a third term in office.

The protests come in defiance of government threats to crackdown on the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, South African President Jacob Zuma has said next month’s elections in Burundi should be postponed indefinitely until the crisis is resolved.

Protests began in late April after the ruling party named Nkurunziza to run for a third term in June’s elections.

Opponents say a further term for the ten year veteran president is unconstitutional.

At least fifteen people were killed in the unrest.

A coup was announced last week in response to the president’s proposal to run for another term, but failed within two days.

Seventeen security officials involved in the coup were charged on Saturday with attempting to destabilize public institutions, but Godefroid Niyombare, who headed the coup, remains at large.

The United Nations said more than 105,000 Burundians have fled to neighboring countries recently.