Emergency summit urges 6 week delay to Burundi elections

Elections in Burundi should be delayed by a month and a half to allow stability to return to the crisis-stricken nation, East African leaders said at the end of an emergency summit on Sunday, according to dpa.

The summit, seen as an important opportunity to put an end to weeks of anti-government protests, was attended by leaders from countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. The crisis erupted after the ruling party put forward President Pierre Nkurunziza as its candidate for a third consecutive term in office.

Opposition activists say this undermines the constitution.

The East African leaders on Sunday stopped short of telling Nkurunziza to step down, with Burundi's presidential advisor Willy Nyamitwe tweeting, 'The طںEAC Summit comes to an end with a positive outcome for the government of Burundi.'

The country's main opposition leader, Agathon Rwasa, told dpa he welcomed the leaders' statement but added that the president should be 'forced' to abandon his bid for a third term.

'The main issue that has caused suffering to Burundians is president's effort to circumvent the rule of law,' he said.

Burundi's government has insisted that parliamentary and presidential elections will be held on June 5 and June 26 respectively despite weeks of civil unrest.

Human rights activists say more than 25 people have been killed in the protests, which have included heavy clashes and an attempted coup.