Arrests Rise In Burundi Protests; Protesters Vow To Remain

Demonstrators walk in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura, Burundi, Friday May 1, 2015. Anti-government street demonstrations continued for a sixth day in protest against the move by President Pierre Nkurunziza to seek a third term in office. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

About 500 students spent the night outside the U.S. Embassy in Burundi's capital, asking the U.S. for protection as street protests went into their sixth day Friday against President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third term.

In the Musaga neighbourhood, protesters marched past many smouldering barricades while brandishing wooded sticks and metal bars. They tried to reach a major road but were stopped by a cordon of riot police. The demonstrators turned in their sticks, sang the national anthem and after a minute of silence marched back into the neighbourhood.

Associated Press reports:
Many protesters say they will not leave the streets until Nkurunziza withdraws his candidacy in June 26 elections.

Families gathered outside a jail to bring food to those who have been arrested. Carina Tertsakian, a senior Rwanda researcher with Human Rights Watch, said Friday that more than 400 people are believed to be in detention as Burundi's government tries to stop the protests.

The protests started on Sunday after the ruling party the previous day nominated Nkurunziza to be its candidate.

Some events carried on as normal. At a local sports field, civil servants paraded in front of officials in a May Day celebration.

Demonstrators cheers at a passing military truck in the Musaga neighbourhood of Bujumbura, Burundi, Friday May 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour Tom Malinowski, who travelled to Burundi on Wednesday, told reporters that the government has been warned of "real consequences" if the crisis escalates.

Many see Nkurunziza's decision to run again as a violation of the Arusha Agreements that ended civil war that killed more than 250,000 people. The fighting between Hutu rebels and a Tutsi-dominated army ended in 2003.

Nkurunziza, a Hutu, was selected by Parliament in 2005 to be president. He was re-elected unopposed in 2010. His supporters say he can seek re-election again because he was voted in by lawmakers for his first term, and was not popularly elected.

At least six people have been killed since Sunday, according to the Burundi Red Cross.