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                       Vote Counting Underway in Burundi

   by VOA News

   Votes are being counted in Burundi, where pre-election violence has
   caused thousands of people to leave the country in the past few months.

   The controversial presidential election Tuesday is believed to have had
   low turnout, as President Pierre Nkurunziza ran without significant
   opposition for a third term.

   Official vote results are expected Thursday. But the elections have
   been roundly criticized as not free or fair, after the government
   ignored an opposition boycott and calls from the international
   community to postpone the election due to the unrest.

   Government officials reported at least three people dead -- two
   policemen and an opposition official -- in a night of gunfire and
   explosions before the election.

   VOA's Central Africa service reports the capital was calm during voting
   hours Tuesday. Witnesses say polling stations were much busier in the
   president's home village of Buye and in other pro-Nkurunziza parts of
   the country.

   Critics say Nkurunziza should not be allowed to serve a third term, but
   Burundi's constitutional court ruled he is eligible because he was
   chosen by lawmakers rather than voters for his first term in 2005.

   The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that by going ahead with the
   election, Burundi's government could lose legitimacy in the eyes of its
   people and unravel the Arusha Agreement that ended the country's civil
   war.

   It warned the U.S. will review all aspects of the U.S.-Burundi
   relationship not yet suspended, and may impose visa restrictions on
   those who promote violence.

   United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on authorities to
   "ensure security and a peaceful atmosphere during the election" and for
   all parties in Burundi to resume dialogue.

   U.N. advisers monitored Tuesday's vote, which included 3.8 million
   eligible voters. It is not clear yet how many of them voted. The U.S.
   State Department says as many as 167,000 Burundians have left the
   country to escape the violence. The U.S. also said it is "deeply
   concerned" that Burundi's foreign minister failed to approve entry for
   African Union human rights monitors ahead of the election.

   The presidential election follows a parliamentary vote last month that
   Nkurunziza's party easily won. The opposition also boycotted that vote,
   which was criticized internationally for not being free or fair.

   Opposition candidates have expressed the same about the presidential
   election, saying widespread intimidation and the threat of violence
   prevent the country from holding a fair vote.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/votes-being-counted-in-burundi/287297
   2.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/votes-being-counted-in-burundi/2872972.html