Rebels warn civilians to flee military zones

Burundi's largest rebel movement warned residents of the capital, Bujumbura, on Tuesday to leave areas near military establishments immediately for their own safety. "The Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie [CNDD-FDD], is again warning inhabitants of Bujumbura to move far away," Gelase Ndabirabe, the movement's spokesman, said in a communique. The warning had been given, he said, because of mounting government attacks despite the CNDD-FDD's unilateral cessation of hostilities in force since 3 November. "We cannot remain with our arms folded, faced with this provocation," he said. He said that since Tuesday, government military aircraft and Rwandan government troops had been directing "unconventional bombs" on the communes of Bukeye, Teza, Muruta and Matongo, causing dozens of civilian casualties. "These planes have backed an offensive of several infantry battalions of Burundian and Rwandan troops," he said. The Burundian military could not be immediately reached for comment. The CNDD-FDD was calling on the international community, he said, "particularly the chairman of the Burundi peace initiative, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda", to demand the unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Burundi, and to ask Burundi President Pierre Buyoya to suspend hostilities.