Burundi politician killed in blast

2010-05-31 20:08

Bujumbura - A local leader from the Burundian opposition party Union for Peace and Development was killed in a grenade blast at the weekend, the party's spokesperson said on Monday.

"At 16:00 GMT the UPD's deputy chair in Buhinyuza commune, Asumani Nzeyimana, was talking to some people when someone in police uniform threw a grenade at them. It exploded and caused him fatal injuries," said Chauvineau Mugwengezo.

"Nzeyimana succumbed to his injuries while six other party activists were seriously wounded and are in hospital," he said of the Sunday incident.

The spokesperson also said another local party leader narrowly missed death on Sunday after two men in civilian clothing shot at him.

"In both cases these are political crimes linked to the elections and ordered by the regime," he said.

Mugwengezo added that the two leaders targeted "were investigating the fraud that characterised last Monday's local elections, notably the ballot box stuffing we've seen everywhere".

Pierre Bambasi, governor of the eastern Muyinga province where the two incidents allegedly took place, confirmed the grenade blast but said it had nothing to do with politics. He said he was not aware of the second attack.

President Pierre Nkurunziza's ruling CNDD-FDD party won the local elections by a wide margin with 64% of the votes.

But the country's main opposition parties denounced "massive fraud by the ruling party" and called for the vote to be annulled.

- AFP