Washington: The United States on Saturday condemned Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza`s controversial bid for a third term in office, warning that the central African country "is losing an historic opportunity to strengthen its democracy."
"We regret this significant missed opportunity, but the hard work of building democratic practices and institutions must continue," acting State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement, amid fears Nkurunziza`s effort to cling to power could push Burundi back into violence.