Arusha - East African leaders are to meet on
Monday in the latest bid to resolve the political
crisis in Burundi, after controversial elections
were internationally condemned for not being
free and fair.
More than 70 people have been killed in more
than two months of protests and a failed coup
attempt sparked by President Pierre
Nkurunziza's defiant bid for a third term, with
almost 144,000 refugees fleeing into
neighbouring nations.
"Heads of state will make an assessment of
the situation in the country," said Owora
Othieno, spokesman for the five-nation East
African Community (EAC).
Parliamentary and local elections were held on
Monday despite an appeal by UN Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon to postpone the polls
after months of turmoil.
The UN electoral observer mission said in a
report late on Thursday that the elections took
place "in a tense political crisis, and a climate
of widespread fear and intimidation".
Also Read: US calls for Burundi election delay
The meeting will be held on July 6 in
Tanzania's economic capital Dar es Salaam,
where two regional summits on the crisis have
already been held.
During the first summit in May 13, a general
staged a failed bid to unseat Nkurunziza while
the president himself attended the talks.
Nkurunziza did not attend a second summit on
May 31, and it was not immediatly clear if he
would attend Monday's planned meeting.
The results of the parliamentary polls have yet
to be released, but former colonial power
Belgium has said it will not recognise the
outcome and the United States has also
ratcheted up international pressure, calling for
presidential elections on July 15 to be delayed.
The EAC bloc includes Burundi, as well as
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
- AFP
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