Security Council calls for cease-fire

The UN Security Council called on Tuesday for a cease-fire in Burundi and encouraged the parties there to complete the process of setting up transitional institutions.

In a statement, Council president Jagdish Koonjul said the members had "underlined that the cease-fire was the foremost priority".

Urging the rebel groups to cease hostilities immediately and to enter into negotiations, Koonjul said "there could be no justification whatsoever" for them to carry out any attacks. The members of the Council had encouraged all states, in particular those in the region, to continue to support the facilitation efforts led by Gabonese President Omar Bongo and South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma to bring the armed groups in Burundi into the peace process, Koonjul said.

Koonjul said it was important that Burundi and its neighbours maintained dialogue. The members also welcomed improved relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi, pointing particularly to the outcome of the recent visit of Burundi's foreign minister to Kinshasa.

"Council members strongly encouraged the governments of the DRC and of Burundi to cooperate further," Koonjul added.

The members reiterated their call on donors to enhance humanitarian activities and development cooperation with Bujumbura and to honour, as soon as possible, past commitments of aid to Burundi. They also commended the South African protection unit for its positive contribution to the peace process in Burundi.

The Council statement followed a closed-door briefing by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast on the situation in Burundi.