Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza Sworn In For Third Term

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza warned rebels Thursday that they would be crushed by God after being sworn in for a controversial third term following weeks of protests and a failed coup against him.

Nkurunziza thanked God for his win in elections last month -- polls the United Nations say were not free or fair -- after taking the oath of office in a surprise ceremony in the capital Bujumbura announced only hours before.

 "The victory we have achieved is a victory of all Burundians, those who elected us, and those who did not," Nkurunziza said. "Today's inauguration in Burundi demonstrates the ruling party's intent to ignore the voices of its people in pursuit of its own political agenda," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Nkurunziza's third term has been condemned as unconstitutional by the opposition and provoked months of protests. There has been a string of killings since his re-election, including of his top security chief, assassinated in a rocket attack last month.

But Nkurunziza, an ex-rebel turned born-again Christian who believes he is in power by divine choice, warned those who have chosen "the path that leads nowhere, who attack and fight their country" will be stopped by the hand of God.

Source: Yahoo News