UN chief condemns killing of Burundi opposition leader

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned on late Saturday the killing of the leader of a Burundi opposition party in Bujumbura, capital of Burundi.

Zedi Feruzi, chairman of the Burundian Union for Peace and Development (UPD-Zigamibanga), was shot dead by unidentified people when he was walking home in Bujumbura's Ngagara district.

The crime came days after opposition protests against the third term bid of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza in the June 26 presidential election. Feruzi was among organizers of the protests.

"This crime, as well as the despicable grenade attack in Bujumbura's central market on May 22 that left two dead and many others injured, threaten to entrench mistrust and trigger further violence," said a statement released by Ban's spokesperson.

"These acts of violence constitute a stark reminder of the need for all Burundian political leaders to address the current political crisis with the highest sense of responsibility and to place peace and national reconciliation above partisan interests," said the statement.

Ban encouraged Burundian stakeholders to pursue the U.N.-facilitated political consultative dialogue which involved representatives of the Burundian government, opposition parties and religious organizations.

"He calls on the parties to the consultative political dialogue not to be deterred by those who, through violence, seek to prevent the creation of an environment conducive to peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in Burundi," said the statement.

Burundi has been in turmoil since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced on April 25 that he will run for a third term, which is in defiance of the constitution that limits the president to two terms in office. He also rejected calls to delay the elections set for June.