"Ethnicisation" of Arusha talks

Delegations to the peace talks underway in Arusha, Tanzania, have divided themselves into three groups along ethnic lines, Hirondelle news agency reported on Thursday. The "Moshi group" is made of predominantly Hutu parties, the "Group of Eight" brings together eight small, mainly Tutsi parties, while the "Partnership Group" is made up of representatives of the government, National Assembly, the ruling UPRONA party and the internal faction of the main opposition FRODEBU party. UPRONA representative Libere Bararunyeretse told Hirondelle there was a risk the negotiations would turn into an "ethnic confrontation". "When people from the same ethnic group join together, it's the most extreme person who takes control," he warned. However Jean Minani, leader of the exiled FRODEBU faction, claimed the groups allowed people with the same ideas to present their views jointly.