Burundi to pursue the 'few' officials behind killings - president

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza speaks during a news conference in Bujumbura, Burundi, May 17, 2015. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Burundi's president said those in possession of illegal arms have a month to relinquish them and that authorities will hold to account the "few" security officials behind cases of killings and torture.

President Pierre Nkurunziza made the comments late on Wednesday after the U.N. human rights chief said this week that there had been an "alarming upsurge" in arrests and killings, with some bodies of victims showing signs of torture.