U.S. condemns 'heavy-handed tactics' by Burundi police in clashes
WASHINGTON Tue Mar 11, 2014 4:57pm EDT
(Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday condemned what it called the
use of heavy-handed tactics by Burundi's police to break up opposition
party meetings at the weekend in which more than a dozen people were
injured and several were arrested.
The State Department said police tried to break up a peaceful meeting
by the women's wing of the United for National Progress party as they
tried to mark International Women's Day. Separately, police tried to
prevent an opposition meeting at the headquarters of the Movement for
Solidarity and Democracy political party (MSD), the State Department
added.
"The United States is deeply concerned by the Government of Burundi's
actions to prevent or break up two separate meetings of opposition
political parties on March 8," the State Department said in a
statement.
It also criticized the MSD for taking two police officers hostage
during the protests, saying that and the police actions were
"inconsistent with Burundi's notable progress toward creating a
peaceful democracy."
"We stress the importance of all parties in Burundi respecting the
democratic process so that Burundi can hold free, fair, and peaceful
elections in 2015," the State Department said.
Political wrangling in Burundi, which emerged from a 12-year civil war
in 2005, has raised concerns of more unrest in a region already
troubled by violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, South
Sudan and the Central African Republic.
Despite relative calm in recent years, rights groups have reported
scores of political killings, intimidation of the opposition and a
crackdown on media since President Pierre Nkurunziza's re-election in
2010.
(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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