Burundi president dismisses protesters

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza filed his candidacy to run for a third term on Friday, saying elections will "go well" despite days of deadly protests at his controversial bid.

Nkurunziza smiled as he became the first candidate to register for the June 26 polls, shrugging off international pressure not to run and dismissing fears of a mounting crisis.

At least 18 people have been killed, including protesters and police, and scores have been wounded since late April, when the ruling CNDD-FDD nominated Nkurunziza to stand for reelection, triggering daily protests.

"These demonstrations have turned into insurrection, but it is something that will be controlled shortly, and I assure you that the elections will go well," Nkurunziza said, as he handed over the documents needed to the electoral commission, surrounded by his supporters.

Opposition parties and civil society groups say Nkurunziza's third-term bid violates both the constitution, which limits a president to two terms in office, and the accords that ended a 13-year civil war between Tutsis and Hutus in 2006.

On Friday evening one of the main protest leaders, Pacifique Nininahazwe, told AFP that demonstrations would be suspended for one day on Saturday.

"The collective against the third term announces that there is a one day truce on Saturday," said Nininahazwe. "The protests will resume on Sunday."

Nininahazwe said the pause in demonstrations would let people "stock up on supplies" and allow the dead to be buried "with honour".

Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader from the Hutu majority who has been in power since 2005, has come under intense international pressure to withdraw from next month's election and stand down.

- 'Burundi is at peace' -

African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma warned on Thursday the time was not right for elections, and that it was "clear that there shouldn't be a third term."

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday Nkurunziza's bid "flies directly in the face of the constitution."

Nkurunziza, dressed in a grey suit without a tie as he registered to run, said that the current crisis was "nothing compared to what we experienced in 1993-1994", referring to the start of the civil war.

"It is something which concerns only some areas of Bujumbura... in the rest of the country people go quietly about their work, more than 99 percent of the territory of Burundi is at peace," he said.

East African leaders are to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis on May 13 in Tanzania.

The constitutional court has found in favour of Nkurunziza, saying his first presidential term did not count as he was elected by parliament, not directly by the people.

The court's vice-president, however, fled the country after refusing to sign the judgement, claiming judges had been subjected to death threats.

- Opposition doubtful of deal -

Government and opposition rivals were meeting Friday seeking a deal, but civil society leaders said they were sceptical an agreement would be struck any time soon.

"The only thing we agree on is a delay to the electoral calendar," one civil society leader said, asking not be named.

The United Nations special envoy for the Great Lakes region, Said Djinnit, appealed late Thursday for calm.

"Everything must be done to avoid any escalation that could undermine peace and stability of the country," Djinnit said in Bujumbura after holding crisis talks to help mediate a deal.

"The perpetrators and instigators of acts of violence will have to answer personally before national and international courts," he added.

Protesters have defied repeated calls to bring an end to demonstrations after almost two weeks of running battles in which over a dozen people have been killed, including police. Saturday's promised truce is the first sign of concession.

The streets of the capital were far quieter Friday amid torrential rains.

In the Nyakabiga neighbourhood police, following a National Security Council order, began dismantling barricades but were met by stone-throwing protestors, and responded with tear gas and water cannon.

An opposition leader vowed that protests would not end.

"Our only leverage is on the street... if we agree to withdraw, you have lost everything," he said.

Over 35,000 Burundians have fled the country in recent weeks, mostly to Rwanda, and the UN's refugee agency chief Antonio Guterres has said he is "extremely worried" by the situation.
Source: AFP