US urges restraint ahead of Burundi's elections

The United States has said it is concerned by tension prevailing in Burundi ahead of the country' s elections and called for electoral stakeholders' restraint, a press release from the U.S. Embassy in Burundi said Saturday.

"The U.S. calls all stakeholders in Burundi's elections to play a constructive and pacific role in this electoral process and to abstain from hate speech, violence and other provocation that would increase the climate of fear and instability," said the press release.

The U.S. urged the Burundian security and defense forces to ensure security with "impartiality" during the electoral process in an effort to protect civilians against intimidation and other abuses.

Through the press release, the U.S. said it will follow closely the situation in Burundi and added that it is ready to take measures including "denying visas" to perpetrators of violence intending to go to the U.S.

"Violence has no place in democratic elections," said the press release.

The U.S. urged the Burundian government to sanction authors of violence in accordance with the law.

On Friday, at least 106 persons were arrested and many of them beaten for allegedly participating in a demonstration that brought hundreds of people in the city center of Burundi's capital Bujumbura to protest against the third term of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza in the upcoming presidential election.

During the demonstration, police fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters and some protesters responded with stones.

Burundi's Roman Catholic Church, the opposition parties and some civil organizations have announced their opposition against Nkurunziza's third term, although he has not stated his intentions.

They say the move will violate the Arusha Agreement and Burundi' s Constitution, adding that the move may bring violence to the East African nation.

The constitution stipulates that a president of Burundi cannot serve the country for more than two terms.

Nkurunziza was elected by parliament in 2005 and re-elected by citizens in 2010.

Burundi is this year to hold general elections between May 26 and August 24, with the presidential election to be held on June 26.