Burundian opposition urges inquiry on leader's death

Source:Xinhua Published: 2015-5-25 17:50:58

Burundi's opposition party, Union for Peace and Democracy (UPD-Zigamibanga), on Sunday urged the government to carry out an independent inquiry on the death of its leader Zed Ferusi who was assassinated on Saturday night near his home in Bujumbura.

"UPD-Zigamibanga urges Burundi government to institute an independent inquiry on this appalling assassination to identify the real perpetrators and halt the spiralling violence in Burundi, " the interim party leader Chauvineau Murwengezo said in a press statement.

He also urged the international community to get more involved in the search for a solution to Burundi's crisis.

Burundi's deputy police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said on Sunday that investigations over the assassination of the opposition leader had already been launched.

He denied rumors alleging that Ferusi was killed by security forces, insisting that at the time of the assassination, there were no any police officers within vicinity.

Ferusi's assassination occurred within a political context characterized by polarization and radicalization of the Burundian political class over the contested third term bid by President Pierre Nkurunziza.

According to UPD-Zigamibanga, Nkurunziza's candidature during the June 26 presidential elections is "illegal."

Posted in: Africa

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