Four people were killed overnight in the Burundian capital Bujumbura, police said Monday, as the east African country was plunged deeper into a spiral of political violence, according to dpa. Civil society sources said an additional eight people had been killed. A police officer was killed during an attack at a police post, police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said. In a separate incident, police killed three gunmen who had attacked them while they were on patrol, he said. Gunmen also attacked the house of Bujumbura mayor Freddy Mbonimpa, blasting three grenades into his compound, according to Nkurikiye. "There was an exchange of gunfire between the mayor's security guards and the gunmen. His house and two cars were damaged," but there were no casualties, the spokesman said. Security forces retaliated for the attacks by firing on civilians, human rights activist Anschaire Nikoyagize said. Eight bodies were found in the morning, said Pacifique Nininahazwe, leader of the civil society organization Forum for Awareness and Development. Independent journalist Antoine Kaburahe, meanwhile, was released after being questioned by prosecutors, his lawyer Ramberi Nsabimana said. Kaburahe was questioned in connection with a coup that was thwarted in May. Journalists - many of whom have gone into exile - are often accused of involvement in the coup, analysts said. In Washington, the United States said it was consulting international and regional leaders about the continuing tensions in Burundi. "It's critical that all parties respect their commitments to internationally mediated dialogue," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. He noted that last week's UN Security Council resolution calling on the Burundi government to protect human rights and cooperate with regional African mediation would allow the international community to "respond quickly to any further deterioration of the situation." Human rights activists say more than 200 people have been killed in protests and attacks since April, when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intention to seek a third term in office despite a two-term limit set by the constitution. The president then went on to win a July election boycotted by the opposition. More than 200,000 people have fled the violence to neighbouring countries. The opposition has warned that peace can only be restored if Nkurunziza steps down and calls fresh elections.
