Burundi

Rebel leader Cossan Kabura has claimed he is still in charge of the PALIPEHUTU-FNL movement, the Hirondelle news agency reported. In a letter to the facilitator of the Burundi peace process, Nelson Mandela, Kabura said that Agathon Rwasa, the "former commander" of the movement's western forces, had attempted a coup against him but had failed, and "disciplinary measures" had been taken against him, along with two other senior FNL members - Alain Mugabarabona and Anicet Ntawuhiganayo.

A humanitarian assessment mission has visited the province of Rutana in the southeast following a wave of fighting between the army and rebels last month in three of its communes - Gitanga, Rutana and Musongati. A report issued by UNOCHA-Burundi noted that 1,500 families had been displaced in Gitanga and 1,187 in Rutana. Musongati was still affected by fighting and a final estimate had not been made.

The Tutsi-dominated army fought Hutu rebels on Sunday in a southern suburb of Burundi's capital where officials said 37 combatants were killed in clashes last week.

Amnesty International expressed concern today at the significant increase in cases of torture and unlawful detention in Burundi. "Since the Forces nationales de libération (FNL), National Liberation Forces, attacked and occupied parts of the capital, Bujumbura, in late February and early March, there has been a noticeable escalation of torture by members of the Burundian security forces. We are also investigating a number of cases where people arrested have been taken to unknown places of det...read more

Two correspondents, a radio journalist and a cameraman have been intimidated by the government of president Pierre Buyoya. Other reporters have been menaced by the dreaded Documentation Nationale, the shadow police force. The actions come at a time of increasing criticism about Buyoya's stalling over the Arusha agreement - a three-year transitional government.

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