Army denies "massacre" allegations

The Burundian army has categorically denied allegations by the missionary news agency MISNA of a "massacre" at a church in Nyambuye, 90 km from Bujumbura. Army spokesman Colonel Longin Minani told IRIN on Wednesday the claims were "pure intoxication" and totally false. MISNA, citing sources in Nairobi, on Tuesday claimed 30 people, all Hutus, were killed when a "group of men in uniform" opened fire on worshippers on Sunday. It further claimed the attack was "carried out by soldiers, many of them Ugandan". Colonel Minani stressed Burundi's war "is a Burundian affair". "The Ugandans have nothing to do with this," he said. He urged journalists and relief workers to visit the area to see for themselves. Regional analysts told IRIN there is currently a lot of propaganda in the region in a bid to "isolate the Tutsis". Building up hostility towards the Burundian authorities will affect the whole region, the analysts warned.