Burundian presidential election

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on July 20 pressed Burundian authorities to pull out all the stops to see that elections are carried out peacefully.

A Burundian official says the president has signed a decree to postpone parliamentary elections for a week from May 26 until early June.

Willy Nyamitwe, the presidential adviser for media, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that President Pierre Nkunuziza signed an order delaying the elections.

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.

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.