Power-sharing talks adjourned

The first face-to-face talks between Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye and rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza ended Thursday with all parties expressing satisfaction with the progress made so far, the office of South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma reported.

The talks, chaired by Zuma, were on power-sharing between the transitional government and Nkurunziza's faction of the Conseil national pour le defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD), the largest rebel movement in Burundi.

Discussions centred on elements of a ceasefire agreement both sides signed in December 2002. Under the terms of that document, the CNDD-FDD is to enter the government and take part in national institutions such as the national assembly and in the security apparatus.

"The implementation talks were aimed at working out the areas of participation and integration," Zuma's office said.

Zuma said he was confident that agreement would be reached soon, given the frank and focused nature of the discussions that covered all the proposals tabled by delegations, his office reported.

The talks that began on Tuesday were held at the KwaMaritane Game Reserve in Rustenburg, in South Africa's North West Province.

"Outstanding issues are to be discussed further ahead of a regional summit, whose date is to be advised by the Great Lakes regional leadership," Zuma's office said.