Weapons everywhere' as deadly post-election violence rattles Burundi

By day, the streets of Burundi's capital Bujumbura are filled with the sounds of market traders and the honking horns of traffic in the lakeside city.

By night, they echo instead to the rattle of gunfire as the violence unleashed by President Pierre Nkurunziza's successful bid for a third term in office rumbles on.

While the crushing of anti-government demonstrations has restored a superficial normality to Bujumbura -- the barricades are torn down, streets cleaned up and the fires put out -- behind the veneer lies an abiding fear.

"In the day, everything is normal, but after nightfall, the shooting starts. You never know what will happen," said Thierry, who lives in Cibitoke, a district that witnessed some of the worst of the street violence that has killed around 100 people.

"It is the night we fear," said taxi driver Jean-Pierre, from Nyakabiga, another hotspot neighbourhood. "By day, life is normal, but by night... you never know who may come to harm us."

In a city rife with secrets and rumours, who is behind the shootings is not clear. What is certain is that people on both sides -- government and opposition -- are targeted.

Some blame the police, saying they want to terrify citizens into staying indoors while they hunt down Nkurunziza's opponents.

Others blame the opposition, accusing them of attacking the police or firing their weapons to show they are still ready to fight and are now armed.