Burundi Orders Immediate End to Protests

Burundi's government on Saturday ordered "insurgents" to end weeks of demonstrations against President Pierre Nkurunziza's third term bid and ordered all barricades to be removed within 48 hours.

"The protesters and organizers of this insurrection must immediately and unconditionally stop this insurrection that handicaps the life of Burundi and its people," the National Security Council said in a statement read out in Bujumbura.

The security body, which includes the defense and public security ministers, also demanded that  all roads "previously barricaded by insurgents" be cleared by security forces "within 48 hours of the publication of this communication".

The government order sets the stage for a showdown with the demonstrators who have vowed to continue their demonstrations on Sunday, after declaring a one-day truce that saw calm return to the streets of the capital on Saturday for the first time in weeks.

At least 18 people, including police and protesters, have been killed since April 26 when Nkurunziza declared his intention to run for a third term in elections due next month.

The president has so far faced down international condemnation of his third term bid which critics say runs contrary to both the constitution and the peace deal that ended a bloody civil war in 2006.

The security order issued late Saturday also said that "all illegally held weapons" would be confiscated and warned people to stay in their houses while neighborhoods are being cleared of barricades.

The National Security Council pledged that all schools, universities and state offices would be able to resume normal operations on Monday.