Buyoya to meet Mandela

Burundian President Pierre Buyoya was due in South Africa on Tuesday to meet the peace process mediator Nelson Mandela. "The president arrives today and will hold consultations with the mediator, Nelson Mandela, and senior government officials probably at a high level," Burundi's ambassador to South Africa Gideon Magete told IRIN. He added that Buyoya would not meet representatives of Burundi's armed groups. The visit comes ahead of a planned visit by Mandela to Burundi later this month to meet opposition groups, parliamentarians, political prisoners, independent media and visits to the country's controversial regroupment camps. Last month Mandela held closed-door talks with armed groups and representatives of the Burundi government.