Demonstrations no threat to Arusha talks - government

The government of Burundi says Saturday's demonstrations against the Arusha negotiations in the capital Bujumbura were "insignificant". "I cannot call them demonstrations because they were nipped in the bud," presidential spokesman Apollinaire Gahungu told IRIN on Monday. "The intelligence got advance information that the so-called demonstrators wanted to flood the central market and loot items. Troops were deployed and scattered small groups." He said that traffic resumed within an hour and everything was back to normal. He added that the president and two vice-presidents were explaining to the people what was going on in Arusha and "there is general understanding".

Tutsi groups were enraged by comments by the facilitator, Nelson Mandela, that Tutsis monopolised power in the country. News agencies say the demonstrations were a clear sign of nervousness among middle-class Tutsis, a major constituency of President Pierre Buyoya. Power-sharing arrangements with the majority Hutu are under consideration at the ongoing Arusha negotiations.