Anti-government protesters in Burundi marched on the streets of the capital Bujumbura Friday, defying one of the heaviest pushes by police to end weeks of demonstrations.

At least two protesters were shot dead and eight wounded in clashes on Thursday with police, the Red Cross said, the latest victims of the unrest triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term, in which more than 20 people have died.

Protesters in Burundi fought intense battles with police Thursday in violent anti-government demonstrations against a third term bid for power by the president, a week on since a failed coup.

At least two protesters were shot dead and eight were wounded in clashes with police in the capital Bujumbura, the Red Cross said, the latest victims of the unrest triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term, in which more than 20 people have died. 

Burundi's defense minister called on the army Thursday to close ranks after a failed coup as the security forces battle to stem weeks of violent anti-government protests.

One protester was shot dead Thursday in clashes with police in the capital Bujumbura, a witness said, the latest victim of the unrest triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in power, in which more than 20 people have died.

Burundian security forces fired shots and tear gas in battles with protesters Wednesday, the latest violence in weeks of anti-government demonstrations, as the presidency delayed elections by over a week.

Amid the street chaos, one soldier was shot dead by police, raising already acute tensions between the two forces. One protester was shot in the leg.

Protesters opposed to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza called for him to step down Tuesday, defying warnings to end weeks of demonstrations as security forces fired shots to restore order after a failed coup.

In one district, civil society leader Dieudonne Bashirahishize led more than a thousand protesters to observe a minute of silence "for the martyrs of the fight for freedom", calling on people to "overcome our fear and continue to demonstrate despite threats".

When the attackers came, Japhet's older brother was among them. A group of 15 climbed to a hilltop neighborhood in Burundi's capital Bujumbura and went house to house looking for opponents of the country's president.

"When they attacked, my brother did not defend me and went to attack another house," said Japhet, a victim of the night raid by the Imbonerakure, the youth league of Burundi's ruling CNDD-FDD party.

Fluttering flags displayed a black eagle and a machete, the symbol of Burundi's ruling party, as cheering supporters of President Pierre Nkurunziza celebrated the crushing of a coup.

On Wednesday, after three weeks of street protests against Nkurunziza's plan to run for a third term, a group of generals tried to oust him. The coup attempt failed and its ringleaders were arrested.

Burundi's president sacked his defense and foreign minister on Monday after a failed coup bid, as hundreds of protesters defied warnings to end demonstrations and resumed weeks of anti-government street marches.

Protesters opposed to President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in power gathered in several parts of the capital Bujumbura, singing songs and blowing whistles, each time chased away by soldiers shooting in the air, then regrouping elsewhere.

The United States on Sunday helped evacuate American, Canadian and other foreign citizens from Burundi, rocked by weeks of deadly street protests and an attempted coup, a State Department spokesman said. 

Burundi's streets have been mired in violence since the announcement by President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would stand for a third term in office. 

Troops loyal to Burundi's president hunted rival soldiers in a hospital during fighting provoked by a coup in the central African nation, leading to the partial destruction of the health facility, witnesses and security sources said.

Security officials, speaking on condition they not be named, acknowledged the operation took place on Thursday when the rebel troops fought a heavy but unsuccessful battle for control over the state radio and television station.