Former rebel group protests against exclusion from ceasefire talks

The military wing of a former Burundian Hutu rebel group that was a signatory to the Arusha accord has said it will not accept the outcome of the present preliminary talks on a ceasefire, because it was not invited to participate. In a letter dated 6 August to Joseph Karumba, the leader of the Front pour la liberation nationale, Placide Makenga, the head of the Forces armees populaires, demanded an immediate explanation for the oversight, the Dar es Salaam-based Guardian newspaper reported. "We want to be considered at the same level as other military forces. Patience and tolerance are not without limit," Makenga said. The party's armed wing had suspended hostilities against the Burundian army, in adherence to Karumba's orders, "a couple of years ago", the newspaper reported. However, Makenga added in his letter that his forces would "strategically and technically take action" to stop the political manoeuvres of a few people "seeking satisfaction of their personal interest to the detriment of all Burundians". Makenga's letter had been copied to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma, Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia, the newspaper reported.