Minister says at least 40 killed in Sunday's rebel attack

At least 30 rebels, eight civilians and two government soldiers died when Hutu rebels of the Forces nationales de liberation attacked the northern outskirts of the capital, Bujumbura, on Sunday, Interior Minister Salvador Ntihabose told reporters.

"These figures will certainly be greater as our investigations progress," he said in Bujumbura.

He said five of the civilians were killed when a grenade exploded in their home, and the other three died after being hit by stray bullets. The army repulsed the rebels, but the combat zone remained inaccessible until Monday morning, he said.

Two soldiers of the South African Protection Support Detachment were among the wounded when the rebels lobbed 60-mm mortar rounds into the northern Bujumbura suburbs of Mutanga and Gihosha. The South Africans are members of a 701-strong force protecting prominent Hutu politicians who returned from exile to participate in the transitional power-sharing government inaugurated 1 November 2001, and to work in state institutions.