7 civilians die in Burundi attack

2010-09-15 23:09

Bujumbura - At least seven civilians were killed by gunmen on Wednesday in an area north of Bujumbura that residents suspect of harbouring a reformed rebellion and where security forces launched a sweep.

Regional administrator Bonaventure Ntirandekura said a gang of eight bandits in army uniform attacked and killed sugar factory workers in the Rukoko area.

"When we arrived at the scene we found six bodies with bullet and machete wounds and 11 others injured, four of them critically," Ntirandekura told AFP, adding that a seventh victim died in hospital.

Earlier, regional police chief David Nikiza said two civilians were killed and wounded in the Rukoko marshes by unidentified armed bandits.

Several official sources said a large police and military operation was launched in the area following the kidnapping of four people on Tuesday.

"We have been hearing a lot of shooting from the Rukoko area... but we don't know if there are any casualties," one local official said on condition of anonymity.

Unrest growing

The killings were the latest in a series of shootings and kidnappings which some observers fear announce the re-birth of the small central African nation's rebellion.

Unrest has been growing in Burundi since May 24 local polls which saw all opposition movements accuse President Pierre Nkurunziza's ruling party of rigging its way to re-election.

Subsequently all opposition candidates withdrew from the June 28 presidential polls, handing Nkurunziza victory.

His main rival, former rebel leader Agathon Rwasa, quit politics and disappeared into the bush, where he is feared to be forming the new rebel movement.

Rwasa's National Liberation Forces (FNL) had laid down its weapons in April 2009 to join the political arena following a lengthy peace process that ended 13 years of civil war in the central African nation.

- SAPA