Burundi's election results expected on Wednesday

The results of Burundi's presidential elections that were held on Monday could be announced on Wednesday, the president of the National Electoral Commission Pierre Claver Ndayicariye has affirmed.

Speaking on a local radio, Ndayicariye explained that counting of votes was still going on and that the commission had deployed enough agents in the provinces to carry out the exercise. They are expected to return to Bujumbura, the country's capital, by Tuesday, to bring the results from the 17 provinces.

Elsewhere, the civil society coalition that was supervising the voting process said that the turn-out was very low compared to the May 24 communal elections.

The outgoing president Pierre Nkurunziza who is vying for his second term of five years, was the only candidate in the race after six opposition candidates decided to boycott the elections to protest against the irregularities that were reported in the communal elections.

Local media reported on Monday that several fighters of the National Liberation Forces (FNL) fled to Tanzania for fear of being arrested.

Radio reports indicated that three members of FNL were arrested at Gisuru area in Ruyigi province. They were accused of having incited opposition members not to vote.

Source: Xinhua