Violence erupted in the early hours of Tuesday in Burundi as a policeman and a civilian were killed in clashes before the start of Burundi’s presidential elections.

The nation has already been hit by a gale of opposition boycotts and protests over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial decision to run for a third term.

Burundi has been faced with weeks of unending demonstrations, a failed coup and violent clashes between rebel soldiers and the army.

Opponents accuse Nkurunziza of violating the constitution by seeking another five year term in office.

Reuters reports that blasts and gunfire echoed around the capital before polling stations opened on Tuesday in a nation grappling with its worst crisis since a bloody civil war that ended in 2005.

Western donors and African states have urged Burundi to postpone the poll, calls that have been ignored by the Burundian president who cited a court ruling which says he can run again as reason for his defiance of global calls for peace.

The government instead said it had already delayed the vote as long as it could and promised a fair poll.

Voting however began in rural areas as dozens queued to cast ballots in areas of Bujumbura that are traditional strongholds of Nkurunziza’s supporters.

However, there were only few voters in other districts of the capital while some polling stations stayed closed after the official 6.00 am start.

Presidential adviser, Willy Nyamitwe, has blamed opponents as those behind the protests and violence.