Suspected revenge killings in Burundi claim 34 lives

At least 34 bodies have been found in the capital city of the Eastern African country of Burundi in suspected revenge attacks for attacks on military complexes in the areas of Musaga, Ngagara and Mujejuru by heavily armed militia that left 87 dead yesterday (11 December).

The Burundi army confirmed it had suffered heavy casualties, including eight from the security forces, in one of the worst nights of violence in the embattled country's history. The violence threatens to ignite a fresh conflict between the country's Hutu and Tutsi people.

The majority of the newly discovered bodies were found on the streets of the capital Bujumbura. Early reports suggest that they were young men killed by gunfire. Some of the victims are believed to have been tied up before they met their fates and they were found only a day after bloody attacks on military sites in the city.

The army has claimed that 12 attackers were killed in the attacks on the military sites and 21 were captured. Local residents have blamed revenge attacks by the area's police departments on the new deaths.

The East African country has been an area of heightened tension since a coup, held in May, failed overthrow the country's president Pierre Nkurunziza. The revolt came about as he decided to seek a third term in office, despite the fact he was voted in on a disputed election result in May.

Official figures from the UN state that 240 people have been killed in Burundi since April and more than 200,000 have been exiled to neighbouring countries.

Nkurunziza came to power after he led a Hutu rebel group against the Tutsi-dominated army during a bloody civil war that followed the killing of Hutu President Melchior Ndadaye in 1993.