[JURIST] Opposition members of parliament in Burundi [JURIST news archive] sought protection from the UN Thursday, alleging that they have been targeted for assassination by the Burundi government. The legislators sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website], saying they have received death threats backed by the government and alleging that government authorities have a list of 350 people to be killed, including opposition lawmakers and other public figures. A government spokesperson told AFP she had not seen the letter and declined to comment.

Burundi is still recovering from a 12-year civil war [GlobalSecurity backgrounder] between the Hutu majority and the dominant Tutsi minority which began in 1993 and claimed more than 300,000 victims. AFP has more. BBC News has additional coverage.