Government condemns “barbaric” killings in Rutana

The Burundi government has expressed “profound shock and horror” over the killings of two UN expatriate staff and seven Burundians at Muzye in Rutana province on Tuesday. In a statement, received by IRIN on Friday, the government described the murders - widely believed to have been carried out by rebels of the Forces de defense pour la democratie (FDD) - as “barbaric acts”. Expressing condolences to the UN, the government urged humanitarian organisations “not to be intimidated by these terrorists”. It vowed to take all necessary measures to protect humanitarian workers and reiterated its call, particularly to Tanzania, for “regional cooperation in combating and neutralising this terrorism”. Finally, the government said it would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and bring those responsible to justice.