Burundi's Environment Minister shot dead

Burundian Environment Minister Emmanuel Niyonkuru was shot dead by a gunman on Sunday in the capital city of Bujumbura, the police said.

Three persons, including two watchmen and a woman, have been arrested in connection with the killing, Xinhua news agency reported.

Burundian police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said that the arrested woman was in the same car driven by the slain minister.

"Early investigations reveal that the killer was in the same car driven by the minister. This means that either it is the woman who shot dead the minister, or she knows who killed him because they were in the same car," said Nkurikiye.

He added that the 54-year-old minister was killed in front of his house after leaving the bar known as "Chez Andre" in Rohero neighbourhood.

"Some people at Bar Chez Andre will also be arrested for their alleged involvement in the assassination of the minister," Nkurikiye added.

Born at Rutegama in Burundi's Muramvya province, Emmanuel Niyonkuru was an economist and was the minister for water, environment and territory planning since August 2015.