Burundians vote in presidential polls amid unrest over incumbent's candidacy

A soldier tries to erase the ink on his finger after he cast his vote in the presidential elections in Bujumbura, Burundi, Tuesday July 21, 2015. A low turnout was experienced in several polling stations in the Burundi’s capital at the start of voting in the country’s presidential election following a night of explosions and gunfire in at least two opposition strongholds that oppose President Pierre Nkurunziza’s candidacy for a third term in office. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (The Associated Press)

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Election observers sit in an empty polling station for the presidential elections in Bujumbura, Burundi, Tuesday, July 21, 2015. A low turnout was experienced in several polling stations in the Burundi’s capital at the start of voting in the country’s presidential election following a night of explosions and gunfire in at least two opposition strongholds that oppose President Pierre Nkurunziza’s candidacy for a third term in office. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (The Associated Press)

The body of a man killed overnight is laid on a street in Bujumbura, Burundi as polls open for the presidential elections Tuesday July 21, 2015. A low turnout was experienced in several polling stations in the Burundi’s capital at the start of voting in the country’s presidential election following a night of explosions and gunfire in at least two opposition strongholds that oppose President Pierre Nkurunziza’s candidacy for a third term in office. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) (The Associated Press)

BUJUMBURA, Burundi – A low turnout is being reported in several polling stations in Burundi's capital at the start of voting in the country's presidential election, following a night of explosions and gunfire in at least two opposition strongholds that oppose President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in office.

The body of a man identified as an opposition official lay on the road in the largely opposition Nyakabiga district, where residents alleged Tuesday that police and intelligence officials exploded grenades and fired live ammunition for most of the night to scare them away from demonstrating over the president's candidacy.

Honore Niyomukiza, who is in charge of voting centers in Cibitoke district, says the gunshots and explosions have kept away voters, though most polling station opened around 6 or 7 a.m.