FOUR BURUNDI EX-PRESIDENTS DENOUNCE NKURUNZIZA'S THIRD TERM BID

Four Burundi ex-presidents have denounced President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term bid calling it 'unconstitional' and warned it could jeopardise the gains of peace made since civil war ended in 2006 in the Great Lakes region.
The four ex-presidents who signed the letter denouncing Nkurunziza's third term bid are Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, Pierre Buyoya, Sylvestre Ntibantunganya and Domitien Ndayzeye who between them ruled Burundi from 1976 to 2005 when Nkurunziza took over power.
Nkurunziza returned to the state capital , Bujumbura on Friday after a coup attempt failed. He insisted he will run for the June 26 presidential elections.
There had been weeks of daily protest against the president's third term bid which left over 20 people dead in clashes with police.
The letter written by the four ex-presidents urging Nkurunziza against a third term bid read in part,
"This decision would automatically end the demonstrations and violence...and would allow the organization of free elections".
The ex-presidents warned that the president's third term bid  could also "undermine the stability of the Great Lakes region".
Meanwhile opposition and rights groups insist that Nkurunziza's third term bid is unconstitutional. Nkurunziza has been in power for the past ten years.