South Africa to host talks between government, FDD

South African President Thabo Mbeki and Deputy President Jacob Zuma will facilitate consultations in Pretoria on Sunday between delegations of the transitional government of Burundi, led by President Domitien Ndayizeye, and the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) movement, led by Pierre Nkurunziza, the South African Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday. The meeting follows the Regional Peace Initiative Summit held on 14 September in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where parties agreed to reconvene with a view to resolving outstanding issues. Consultations will focus on the conclusion of a power-sharing arrangement between the two parties. Under a ceasefire agreement signed in December 2002, Nkurunziza's faction of the CNDD-FDD is to participate in the transitional government and security institutions of Burundi. The Pretoria talks are, therefore, aimed at working out the areas of participation and integration, the South African Department of Foreign Affairs said.