Parties regroup for transitional government

Sides attending the Arusha peace talks are regrouping into alliances to position themselves for the formation of a transitional government, according to the leader of the monarchist PRP party, Mathias Hitimana. The alliances appear to be slightly different to those formed during the previous rounds of Arusha talks. The predominantly Hutu sides - FRODEBU, CNDD, FROLINA, PALIPEHUTU, PL, RPB and PP - remain under the G7 umbrella, while the government, national assembly and UPRONA form the G3 group. The small Tutsi parties - ANDADDE, RADDES, PSD, PIT - have grouped as G4 and the more radical Tutsi parties - AV-Intwari and PRP - as G2. Three more Tutsi-dominated parties - PARENA, ABASA and INKINZO - have not entered into any alliance. Regional observers say the formation of alliances has prompted intense lobbying and tension, though it is not yet clear how the transitional government will be formed. According to the observers, President Pierre Buyoya and exiled FRODEBU leader Jean Minani have emerged as the main contenders to lead the transition, which will be formed at the end of the Arusha process.