UN to vote Friday on resolution condemning Burundi killings

UNITED NATIONS — The UN Security Council has scheduled a vote Thursday on a resolution strongly condemning increasing killings, torture and other human rights violations in Burundi and threatening possible sanctions against those contributing to the violence.

Top UN officials and human rights groups have urged action against what witnesses call a deadly government crackdown on opposition members. Statements last week by government officials echoing language used in the 1994 Rwanda genocide have raised alarms at the UN

READ: Despite genocide warnings, Burundi says it’s ‘not in flames’ | UN backs investigation of human rights violations in Burundi

The African Union has asked the East African Standby Force to expedite contingency planning to deploy to Burundi if the situation gets worse.

A UN peacekeeping department spokesman said Wednesday the UN is working closely with the AU and the deployment of peacekeepers from Congo has also been mentioned as a possible option.