A protestor opposed to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza's third
term brandishes a rock as he stands beside a burning vehicle during a
demonstration in the Buyenzi neighbourhood of Bujumbura on May 26, 2015
.AFP PHOTO | CARL DE SOUZA
By AFP
UNITED NATIONS
The UN Security
Council will hold closed-door talks on Wednesday on the crisis in
Burundi after an opposition leader was gunned down at the weekend.
The
15-member council will hear a report by UN envoy Said Djinnit who has
been trying to broker an agreement to end the political violence that
has left at least 30 dead over recent weeks.
The council's Lithuanian presidency said the meeting is set for 1715 GMT.
The
Security Council warned at the weekend that it was ready "to respond to
violent acts which threaten peace and security in Burundi" after
opposition leader Zedi Feruzi was killed in Bujumbura along with his
bodyguard.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the violence and reiterated calls for dialogue to resolve differences.
Burundi's
government however struck a defiant tone in response to calls for
compromise, with a spokesman declaring on state radio that Bujumbura
"will not negotiate and will not discuss matters that undermine our
institutions."
Burundi has been in turmoil since
President Pierre Nkurunziza announced plans to run for a third term,
sparking violent demonstrations.
The crisis deepened during a coup attempt this month that has raised alarm over revenge attacks.
Opposition
leaders argue that Nkurunziza's bid for another five-year term violates
the terms of the Arusha accord that ended Burundi's 13-year civil war
in 2006.
But the president's supporters maintain that
he is eligible to run because he was elected by parliament and not by
popular vote to his first term.
DAILY NATION.
DAILY NATION.