Albinos in Burundi have been forced to go into police protection after gangs killed three of them for their body parts, reports said.

The BBC said that four albinos were taken to a provincial town, where they were being guarded by police.

Two of the albinos killed were found with limbs missing, the BBC quoted local police as saying.

An investigation by the BBC in neighbouring Tanzania claimed witchdoctors were behind the killings of 26 albinos in last than a year.

Albino body parts are believed to be of use in potions to make people rich.