At least 87 people were killed on Friday in the African nation of Burundi in political violence. The country's army said that 79 "enemies" of the state and eight soldiers were killed on what AFP described as the bloodiest day in months of unrest. According to the report, the streets of the capital, Bujumbura, were strewn with bodies, many bearing gunshot wounds.
There have been continued protests in the country since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his decision to seek a third term in office, reported the BBC. He won a disputed election in July.
Friday’s violence occurred a day after the government said an unidentified group carried out three co-ordinated attacks on military targets, according to The Guardian. Several witnesses told AFP that officers from the police and the army went door-to-door in opposition strongholds in Bujumbura, dragged out young men and executed them.
According to the UN, at least 240 people have been killed since April and more than 200,000 have fled to neighbouring countries.
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