Army clashes with Hutu rebels outside Bujumbura

Hutu rebels attacked the market town of Kanyosha, south of Bujumbura, on Tuesday morning but were repulsed by army forces who had noticed unusual movements of people in the previous few days, according to army claims reported by the Rwanda News Agency. "Heavy gunfire which echoed in the capital caused the population to panic and many fled towards the centre of the city," the same sources said, adding that by late afternoon, the situation had returned to normal and people had started to return home.

The rebels reportedly fled to the hills in Mubezi, Muhuta, Mutambu and Mubimbi communes.

Production of pulses down 22 percent

Cereal output from the recently-harvested 1999 B season crops declined by 10 percent compared to the same season last year, while production of pulses was estimated to have decreased by 22 percent, FAO said in its annual report. Overall, food production was estimated to be 6 percent below the 1998 B harvest. The season was affected by a late start and early cessation of the rains, coupled with army worm attacks. In addition, increased prices of imported goods have worsened access of a large section of the population to basic food and non-food items. The number of displaced people still living in "re-groupment camps" was estimated at 543,000 people, the report said.