Buyoya outlines new security institutions

President Pierre Buyoya has given details of new regulations governing the country’s security institutions. Burundi radio said he told reporters on Thursday that a “communal” police force would be set up. A single new body would be created to protect the security “of all ethnic groups”, and would oversee the gendarmerie department charged with upholding public order as well as the army department dealing with border security, the radio reported. Buyoya also rejected the idea that the government’s political transition proposals would raise objections at the Arusha talks. He said the diaspora “had to understand the initiatives of their brothers residing in the country”.