Burundi starts voting in parliamentary election not observed by AU

BUJUMBURA: Voting in a parliamentary election began in Burundi on Monday, the first in a series of polls whose credibility has been undermined by weeks of violent protest sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third term.

The African Union stood down its election observers on Sunday, saying the election would be neither free nor fair. Burundi has been in turmoil since April, when Nkurunziza said he would seek a third term, exacerbating months of protests and triggering an abortive military coup last month.

Voters lined up outside polling stations due to open at 6a.m. (0400 GMT) in Bujumbura, but voting was delayed by 30 minutes at most polling stations in the capital, and state radio reported longer delays in the rural areas.

On Sunday Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma AU the commission's chairwoman, said in a statement. "Noting that the necessary conditions are not met for the organisation of free, fair, transparent and credible elections ... the AU Commission will not observe the local and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place this Monday."