BUJUMBURA — Burundi's president would not oppose forming a national unity government after an election boycotted by the opposition but if he wins a third term would not cut it short, a presidential official said on Wednesday. “A government of national unity is not a problem for Pierre Nkurunziza, we are ready to do so,” Willy Nyamitwe, adviser to President Pierre Nkurunziza, told Reuters after a leading opposition figure called for such a step. But he rejected the idea of cutting short any new five-year mandate as “impossible.” Vote counting was under way in Burundi Wednesday, the day after a presidential election marred by violence and international condemnation that is expected to see incumbent Nkurunziza win a controversial third term. Results from the polls, which has been condemned as illegitimate by the international community after sparking months of deadly violence that forced tens of thousands to flee the country, are expected by the end of Thursday. Electoral Commission president Pierre-Claver Ndayicariye said around 74 percent of the country's 3.8 million registered voters cast their ballot, comparable to last month's general elections, despite a boycott from opposition lawmakers. At least two people — a policeman and a civilian — were killed overnight before the polls opened on Tuesday in what Nkurunziza's chief communications advisor called “terrorist acts” aimed at “intimidating voters”. Ndayicariye said turnout was depressed in southwestern Bururi province and Bujumbura, the epicenter of three months of anti-government protests where gunfire and grenade blasts could be heard as polls opened. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged calm, calling on all sides to “refrain from any acts of violence that could compromise the stability of Burundi and the region”. The US on Tuesday said the government's refusal to delay the vote threatened its legitimacy and risked “unraveling the fragile progress” made by the peace deal that ended more than a decade of civil war and ethnic massacres in 2006. Opposition and civil society groups have denounced Nkurunziza's candidacy as unconstitutional, while international observers have said the elections are not free and fair. State radio said an election official was arrested after being caught red-handed stuffing a ballot box at a polling station outside the capital. The 51-year-old president — a former rebel, born-again Christian and football fanatic — is facing no serious competition, but critics say a win by the incumbent will be a hollow victory, leaving him ruling over a deeply divided nation. Although eight candidates are on the ballot paper, most have already withdrawn from the race and those remaining are not seen as having a chance as the unrest and the closure of most independent media have stopped them campaigning. Key opposition leader Agathon Rwasa did not formally withdraw, but said the election could not be free or fair and did not attempt to win votes. In one polling station in the capital, voters were seen scrubbing off indelible ink from their fingers to avoid reprisals from opposition supporters boycotting the ballot. The International Crisis Group think-tank has warned that the situation has all the ingredients to plunge Burundi into civil war. “Despite a facade of pluralism, this is an election with only one candidate, where Burundians already know the outcome,” said the ICG's Thierry Vircoulon. Former colonial ruler and key aid donor Belgium said the polls “do not meet the minimal requirements of inclusiveness and transparency”, and repeated warnings it would “review its cooperation” with Bujumbura. — Agencies
