Former rebels 'win' election

2005-06-05 19:25

Bujumbura - The former main rebel group in Burundi claimed victory on Sunday in local government elections that will determine the composition of parliament's upper chamber, but authorities ordered repeat votes in five areas hit by violence during the polls.

The Forces for the Defence of Democracy, from the ethnic Hutu majority, won about 65% of the 3 225 seats up for grabs in Friday's balloting, spokesperson Jeremie Ngendakumana said, citing returns filed by the party's election monitors, independent observers and local media.

The election - the first since civil war began in 1993 - was considered a key test of strength for the main parties and for democracy in the tiny central African country.

The local representatives will choose members of the senate, where Hutus and the Tutsi minority are expected to be equally represented.

"This is a victory of every Burundian and, most of all, the victory of democracy," Ngendakumana said. "This will benefit all Burundians."

The polls, however, were marred by attacks on voters and UN peacekeepers that forced about 260 polling stations around Burundi's capital to close.

The head of the UN mission in Burundi, Carolyn McAskie, said Friday's violence may have been orchestrated by members of the army - a bastion of power for Tutsis - intent on scuttling the transition to democracy after the ruinous 12-year civil war.

The army refused to comment on the possibility that its soldiers may have been involved in the violence.

Burundi will repeat elections on Tuesday in five of 129 communities that were hit by violence, electoral chief Paul Ngarambe said, adding later that a partial repeat vote will also be held in a sixth commune.

"Security experts have given us assurances that security has been reinforced and that people can go vote safely," Ngarambe said.

Army spokesperson Adolphe Manirakiza said security forces had been deployed to the areas to protect voters.

"I cannot guarantee 100% that there will not be any shooting or grenade attack, but we will limit damage," Manirakiza said.

- AP