Thousands flee shelling in Bujumbura Rural

Thousands of people fled Kanyosha Commune, southeast of the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, following heavy fighting on Thursday between government forces and fighters loyal to rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza, local officials told IRIN. The governor of Bujumbura Rural Province, Ignace Ntawembarira, said a majority of the 80,000 Kanyosha residents fled when rebels from the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) began shelling the commune from the Musumba hills. The commune is in Bujumbura Rural. Ntawembarira said most of the people fled towards Ruyaga commune and Buhonga parish, also in Bujumbura Rural. Burundi army spokesman Col Augustin Nzabampema said at a news conference that the rebels, together with those of another CNDD-FDD faction led by Agathon Rwasa, used Katyusha rockets and 82 mm mortars. "We don't yet know the casualties, but a rocket destroyed one house. The army is now using artillery to neutralise FDD attacks," he said. Nzabampema said that FDD rebels also attacked the central province of Gitega, shelling a brewery. One resident of Gitega town told IRIN that the shelling had knocked out electricity supplies. Nzabampema said the latest rebel attacks were "a flagrant violation" of a ceasefire agreement the government signed with Nkurunziza's faction of the CNDD-FDD in December 2002. "It also signifies that the FDD is not satisfied by the actual step already achieved in the peace process", Nzabampema said, in reference to the political change due to take effect on 1 May. He called of African Union observers in Bujumbura "to take note and denounce the escalation of violence".