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Burundi president wins re-election in 1-man poll

Sun Jun 27, 2010 11:46 AM EDT
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Associated Press
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<p>In this photo of Friday, June 25, 2010, a crowd of supporters for incumbent Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza dance during a campaign rally in Bujumbura for the upcoming presidential elections. A spate of grenade attacks, accusations of intimidation and vote rigging by opposition leaders have heightened fears of a return of conflict in Burundi as the country holds its first presidential election Monday since the end of the country's civil war that left over 300,000 people dead. Tensions has risen since six opposition candidates vying for the presidency unanimously decided early June to pull out of the polls, accusing the ruling party of massive vote-rigging after it won a large victory in district elections last month which EU observers said met international standards. (AP Photo/Martina Bacigalupo)</p>

In this photo of Friday, June 25, 2010, a crowd of supporters for incumbent Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza dance during a campaign rally in Bujumbura for the upcoming presidential elections. A spate of grenade attacks, accusations of intimidation and vote rigging by opposition leaders have heightened fears of a return of conflict in Burundi as the country holds its first presidential election Monday since the end of the country's civil war that left over 300,000 people dead. Tensions has risen since six opposition candidates vying for the presidency unanimously decided early June to pull out of the polls, accusing the ruling party of massive vote-rigging after it won a large victory in district elections last month which EU observers said met international standards. (AP Photo/Martina Bacigalupo)

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BUJUMBURA — Burundi's electoral commission says the lone candidate in the country's presidential election has won by a landslide.

The National Electoral Commission said Wednesday incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza won more than 91 percent of the vote with 77 percent voter turnout. Officials had predicted that a spate of grenade attacks would scare off voters.

At least eight people have been killed and more than 50 people wounded in almost 60 explosions since June, raising fears of a return to violence seen during the country's recent civil war.

Monday's vote was the second direct presidential vote in the tiny Central African nation since its 1962 independence from Belgium. Opposition members boycotted the vote, saying they feared it would be rigged.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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