Gabon to host next round of peace talks

The next round of peace talks on Burundi will take place in Libreville, Gabon, Gabonese Africa No 1 radio reported on Friday. The announcement follows the conclusion of talks held in Pretoria, South Africa last week, in which five African heads of state, 19 signatories of the Arusha peace accords and the two main rebel groups participated. However, with a transitional power-sharing government due to be inaugurated on 1 November, no agreement was reached in two critical areas - namely, the composition of an armed peacekeeping force and a cease-fire. Speaking to Africa No 1 radio on Friday, Gabonese President Omar Bongo said "We still have a few meetings to organise in Libreville. Then the new government will take office and this government will, without doubt, be the one to negotiate the cease-fire [...] Right now, we are working on the issue of troops supposed to be coming from many countries to guarantee the security and protection of those coming from outside the country to be part of this government. Protection measures will be adopted." The Libreville gathering will be the 18th such meeting organised on Burundi since civil war erupted in 1993.