Six opposition party members arrested in Burundi

Police in Burundi have arrested six members of an opposition group whose leader fled the country two weeks ago apparently fearing for his life the party announced on Monday.

Photo: Eric Miller

Police are also reported to have confiscated two grenades from the party.

Spokesman for the Movement for Peace and Development (MSD) Francois Nyamoya accused the police of planting the grenades and harassing them.

"This is a pure set up. It is the police who brought the grenades because it would be totally stupid for us to keep weapons at our offices while we are the subject of government and police harassment," Nyamoya said.

Police declined to comment on the arrests but according to the search warrant the party was accused of threatening state security.

The MSD chief Alexis Sinduhije is the third opposition chief to go into hiding.

Former rebel leader Agathon Rwasa, whose group joined the government last year, left the country in May fearing arrest when the country embarked on an electoral marathon.

Last month, Leonard Nyangoma, the head of another opposition group, also fled for fear of arrest and even his life after he complained about the military.

Referring to an umbrella opposition party Nyamoya said "the government is trying to silence members of the Democratic Alliance for Change,” adding "yesterday was the FNL (Rwasa's party), today it is us, tomorrow it will be another opposition party”.

Opposition parties in Burundi's boycotted the presidential and parliamentary elections that took place in June and July claiming that the local elections in May were rigged by the government.

President Pierre Nkurunziza ran virtually unopposed and was re-elected after taking more than 90 per cent of the vote.