Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza is pushing ahead with the election scheduled for June, protests against which has cost 18 lives and triggered an exodus out of the country.

Nkurunziza appeared unswayed by AU, EU and US calls for him to delay the election, which he wants to ride into office, for a third term, against the terms of the country’s constitution.

In an interview with BBC, he said cancelling the election would plunge Burundi into a deeper crisis.

The BBC reported today that Belgium has suspended nearly $6m (£3.8m) in aid to the poor country.

Last week, African Union (AU) commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma also said the climate in Burundi was not conducive for elections.

Mr Nkurunziza said that the protests against his third-term bid had been orchestrated by “outside forces” and the deaths were regrettable.

Burundi’s opposition and civil society groups insist that Mr Nkurunziza’s third-term bid is unconstitutional and he should step down.

But the president argues his first term does not count as he was appointed by parliament, not directly elected by the people.

Last week, the constitutional court backed this interpretation.

Mr Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, has ruled Burundi for nearly 10 years.

*From reports by BBC