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May 5, 2015

Burundi: 4 Protesters Killed as Court Backs President's Re-election Bid 
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In Burundi, the constitutional court has ruled President Pierre
Nkurunziza can run for a third term, as deadly protests against his bid
continue into their second week. Secretary of State John Kerry has
called the re-election bid unconstitutional. Burundi's constitution
allows presidents to serve only two terms, but Nkurunziza was appointed
to his first term by Parliament. The court's decision to allow his
re-election bid comes after the vice president of the court fled the
country, telling Agence France-Presse a majority of the court believed
the bid was unconstitutional, but the judges had faced "enormous
pressure and even death threats" to side with the president. Police
reportedly shot four protesters dead on Monday, bringing the death toll
to at least 13.

 

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