Burundi ruling party wins majority in parliament


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BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) — Burundi's ruling party has won a majority in parliament in elections that were boycotted by most of the opposition groups, according to provisional results released by the electoral commission Tuesday.

The ruling party CNDD-FDD won 77 of 100 seats that were being contested, Electoral Commission chairman Claver Ndayicariye said.

Burundi has been rocked by protests ahead of the elections this year because of President Pierre Nkurunziza's push for a third term in office.

Protesters say Nkurunziza must go after serving two terms, the maximum allowed under the country's constitution. But Nkurunziza's supporters say he is eligible for a third term because he was chosen by lawmakers — and not popularly elected — for his first term, and the constitutional court has ruled in the president's favor.

At least 77 people have been killed since protests began after the April 26 announcement by the ruling party that Nkurunziza is their candidate.

Regional leaders on Monday urged Burundi's government to delay presidential elections by two weeks.

Presidential elections are scheduled for July 15, and Nkurunziza's government has previously indicated it is opposed to postponing the polls.

Regional leaders under the East African Community bloc, of which Burundi is a member, met in Tanzania to discuss the situation in Burundi as the government presses ahead with the controversial polls.

The summit called for a government of national unity no matter who wins the polls, and also urged Nkurunziza's government to disarm all armed groups that are accused of fuelling violence in the country

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BY GERARD NZOHABONA

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