UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the upcoming elections in Burundi should be postponed due to tension in the country.

In a statement published on Friday, Ban said Burundi needs to delay the elections in order to create "a conducive environment for inclusive, peaceful and transparent elections."

Ban’s statement came after opposition parties announced their decision to boycott the upcoming elections.

"All the opposition [groups] have unanimously decided to boycott the elections," said one of the opposition leaders, Charles Nditije, in a letter to the election commission.

Burundi’s opposition groups have called for the boycott of the elections over over what they cite as voting concerns. Government officials have already assured the opposition that they would guarantee a fair vote.

Parliamentary elections are due on Monday and the presidential vote is scheduled for July 15.

The poverty-stricken and landlocked country in central Africa has fallen into violent turmoil since April, when President Pierre Nkurunziza launched a drive to serve a third consecutive five-year term.

Opponents say the president’s bid for another term is unconstitutional and violates the 2000 Arusha Accord that ended civil war.

About 70 people have lost their lives during clashes with police over the past weeks of street protests.

Almost 127,000 people have fled to neighboring states and more are leaving, many voicing concerns about possible violence during voting, the UN refugee agency says.

XLS/HSN