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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Bin Ra’ad, on Monday, voiced alarm at a "sharp increase" in the use of torture and ill-treatment in violence-torn Burundi.

The UN human rights chief said his team on the ground had registered "at least 345 cases of torture and ill-treatment" since January. "These shocking figures are a clear indicator of the widespread and growing use of torture and ill-treatment by government security forces," Prince Zeid added in a statement.

Prince Zeid noted that most of the torture in the country was taking place in facilities run by Burundi's intelligence service, but also pointed the finger at the national police and, to a lesser extent, the army.

UN rights officials vsisted detainees, who showed physical signs of torture. Many had fresh wounds on their bodies. Some were unable to walk without assistance after being beaten with belts, iron rods or sharp objects, or burned," The UN human rights chief said.