Burundi

Nearly 10,000 Burundians fled the country over the weekend before Burundi closed its borders ahead of controversial and violence-wracked elections in the troubled central African nation, the United Nations said on June 30.

Thousands of Burundian activists mourned a murdered opposition leader at his funeral May 24, vowing to intensify their protests against a bid by the president of the central African nation to seek a third consecutive term.

Parliamentary and presidential elections due to take place in Burundi in May and June could be delayed in the wake of the coup attempt against President Pierre Nkurunziza, his office said May 17.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will be in Brussels on Monday, May 18, to attend a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).

Burundian leader Pierre Nkurunziza has returned to the country, his office said May 14, as a deputy coup leader said the attempt to overthrow the president had failed after fierce battles between rival army factions.

Shots rang in Burundi, Africa, near the state-owned radio and TV station, according to Reuters.

The station’s building has been surrounded by soldiers, while some attempted to enter.

Heavy fighting between rival Burundian troops erupted in the capital on May 14, the day after a top general launched a coup to oust the central African nation's President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Over 50,000 Burundians have fled their country since the start of political violence in April, the UN refugee agency said on May 8, adding that many more were trying to leave but faced hurdles.

Turkey summoned the Vatican Ambassador in Ankara after Pope Francis described the mass killing of Armenians in WW1 as genocide.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry requested a meeting with the Vatican's envoy in Ankara after the Pope's comments during Sunday's Mass in the Armenian Catholic rite at Peter's Basilica, according to reports of the BBC News.

The UN human rights chief on March 10 strongly condemned a surge in attacks in east Africa on albinos, whose body parts are often used for witchcraft.
      
The statement came after police in Tanzania arrested seven suspects over a brutal weekend assault in which a six-year-old albino boy's hand was hacked off with a machete.