Burundi constitutional court allows president's third term bid

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has been in power for two terms since 2005. By Francois Guillot (AFP/File)

Bujumbura (Burundi) (AFP) - Burundi's constitutional court on Tuesday cleared President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a controversial third term, following days of deadly protests in the capital Bujumbura.

The court ruled that the president's bid to stand for another term "by direct universal suffrage for five years is not contrary to the constitution of Burundi," the judgement signed by six out of seven judges read.