Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza can run for a third term, according to the country's constitutional court.

Under the constitution, presidents can only be elected to two terms in office but it was argued that his first term does not count as he was appointed by parliament.

His third-term bid has led to more than a week of deadly protests.

The court's decision comes after the court's vice-president reportedly fled the country citing "death threats".

Sylvere Nimpagaritse told the AFP news agency that the court's judges have faced "death threats".

Mr Nimpagaritse says that most of the court's judges think it is unconstitutional, but they were under pressure to change their minds, reports AFP.

On Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Mr Nkurunziza to abandon his re-election bid.

"We are deeply concerned about President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision, which flies directly in the face of the constitution of this country," Mr Kerry told reporters during a visit to Kenya.

Mr Nkurunziza has been in power since 2005, when a 12-year civil war officially ended.