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Five die in Burundi clashes
16/03/2008 21:52 - (SA)
Patrick Nduwimana
Bujumbura - Burundi's last remaining
rebel group accused the army of killing five of their commanders
and kidnapping five more fighters in clashes that threaten to
undermine a shaky peace process.
A military spokesperson denied the allegations.
Speaking from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a spokesperson for the
Hutu Forces for National Liberation (FNL) said the fighting had taken
place on Friday in the rebel stronghold of Musigati.
"It's really regrettable, government troops shot dead our
members while they were in a meeting," Pasteur Habimana said
late on Saturday.
"It's clear that the government has chosen the war option
instead of peace talks."
Army spokesperson Colonel Adolphe Manirakiza said government
troops had not killed any FNL fighters.
"Our troops have just arrested five FNL combatants who were
going to hold the population to ransom," he said.
Peace talks to resume
The incident came after mediators announced that FNL leaders
would be returning to the central African country by May to
finalise a peace deal signed in September 2006.
Talks to implement the peace pact were suspended last July
when FNL members walked out after accusing the South African
chief mediator, Charles Nqakula, of bias.
On his last visit to Burundi this month Nqakula said the
truce-monitoring team, which comprises FNL members, government
officials and mediators, would resume its work on April 1.
But FNL rebels urged Burundi authorities to grant them an
amnesty before they join the truce-monitoring team.
The FNL insurgency was seen as the final barrier to lasting
stability in the coffee-growing nation of 8 million, where more
than a decade of ethnic conflict has killed 300 000 people.
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