UN chief dispatches envoy to Burundi over election crisis

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has dispatched an envoy to Burundi following deadly protests over the president`s election bid that has raised fears of a return to war.

Ban condemned the violence that has left at least five dead in two days and said those responsible should be held accountable, a statement from his spokesman said Tuesday.

UN envoy for the Great Lakes region Said Djinnit was to hold talks with President Pierre Nkurunziza who on Saturday announced that he would run again for office as his party`s candidate.

The opposition argues that the move is unconstitutional and has warned that Nkurunziza`s decision will plunge the central African nation back into violence.

Nkurunziza has been in power since 2005, when a 12-year civil war ended.

Burundi`s constitution only allows a president to be elected twice -- for a total of 10 years in power -- but Nkurunziza argues he has only been directly elected by the people once.

Ban appealed "to Burundians to safeguard the hard won gains made in consolidating peace and democracy and urges them to resolve their differences through dialogue," the statement said.

He called on security services to remain impartial and exercise restraint in their response to demonstrations after police fired live rounds, tear gas and water cannons on protesters.

Protesters were back on the streets of Bujumbura on Tuesday for a third day of anti-Nkurunziza demonstrations and the police chief appealed for people not to turn "protests into a rebellion."

Ban "urges all sides to reject violence and avoid using inflammatory language or hate speech that could further increase tensions."

Security Council envoys, who visited Burundi in March, are due to discuss the crisis this week.