Burundi: 15 rebels killed

2004-10-29 10:30

Bujumbura - Fifteen fighters from Burundi's last active rebel group have been killed in clashes with the army near the central African country's capital, military sources said on Thursday.

"The army mounted a surprise counter-attack on Wednesday in Kibanda (about 10 had gathered," army spokesperson Major Adolphe Manirakiza said.

"Fifteen rebels were killed, several wounded, and 13 weapons were recovered," he said, adding that one government soldier had been wounded.

The FNL could not be reached on Wednesday for comment.

Kibanda is in Bujumbura Rural province, where the FNL is most active.

Almost all of the groups drawn from Burundi's Hutu majority which took up arms in 1993 have recently joined a transition government, leaving only the relatively small FNL still at war. - AFP

- SAPA