Rebel attack on military post leaves two dead

A rebel attack on a military position and some homes in the Buterere neighbourhood of Bujumbura on Tuesday night left two dead, Burundi army spokesman Colonel Longin Minani confirmed on Thursday. “One of the dead was a soldier,” he told IRIN. However, he denied press reports that the military post was burnt, reiterating that it was “only attacked and is still intact”. The Burundi news agency ABP quoted the head of Buterere zone, Bernard Bagirimbereka, as saying that the armed groups also stole a large number of household items, foodstuffs and money. He said blood traces were seen on the withdrawal route taken by the assailants, “which leads one to believe that there were injured members among them”. ABP said the rebels were from Bugoma in Mutimbizi commune in northern Bujumbura rural province.