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East African leaders to hold summit on Burundi as violence continues

Rights groups say at least 20 people have been killed by police since protests erupted in late April against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in office.

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East African leaders will meet on Sunday to discuss the crisis in Burundi as violent clashes between police and anti-government protesters continue and the opposition has boycotted talks to resolve the stand-off.

Rights groups say at least 20 people have been killed by police since protests erupted in late April against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in office. An opposition leader was killed on Saturday.

Police fired towards protesters and gunfire was heard in several parts of Bujumbura early on Tuesday, a witness said. Many roads in the capital are blocked and businesses closed. Members of the military attempted a coup on May 13 while Nkurunziza was abroad at the last East African Community (EAC) summit aimed at ending the row over his plan to stand again.

The putsch failed but protests have rumbled on. The EAC said on Twitter late on Monday that another leaders' summit would be held in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, with ministers meeting on Saturday. Nkurunziza's office said it was unclear if the president would attend.

"It's too soon to know, but Burundi will be represented, that is for sure," said presidential spokesman Gervais Abayeho. Nkurunziza's decision to try for a third term unleashed Burundi's worst political crisis since a civil war ended in 2005.

Many people fear the violence could lead to renewed ethnic bloodletting between the Hutu and Tutsi communities. Critics say Nkurunziza's bid violates the constitution. The president's supporters disagree, and say a constitutional court ruling allows him to run.

"I can't go to work and I don't know how to get to the office as policemen are shooting," said Claude, a Buyenzi resident who declined to give his full name. Jacqueline, who lives in the flashpoint Cibitoke area, added: "Two grenade explosions were heard at dawn but we don't know about casualties yet."

Some 800,000 mainly Tutsis and Hutus were killed in a 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda. The current unrest has prompted around 70,000 Burundians to flee abroad, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

The presidency on Tuesday said Nkurunziza had signed a decree on May 21 for the elections to be financed by increasing the country's deficit and trimming the budgets of the education, health and seven other ministries.

About 44 billion francs ($28 million) need to be found to fund the elections, the document states. Domestic debt will be increased by 28 billion francs, while 14 billion francs will be raised from ministry savings. Another one billion should be saved from what the document calls "other products". The government also put out a statement on Tuesday asking "patriotic citizens" to contribute money to a special account at the central bank to finance the election.  

Also Read: Burundi army chief says coup attempt failed

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