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Opposition leader Charles Mukasi released

Burundian politician Charles Mukasi, leader of an extremist faction of the main pro-Tutsi Union pour le progres national (UPRONA) political party, has been released, Radio Burundi reported on Friday. Presidential police officers arrested Mukasi on 17 October in connection with his opposition to the current transitional government in the country. Mukasi's faction is opposed to the accord for peace and reconciliation, signed in 2000 by 19 Burundian parties in Arusha, Tanzania. He was arrested a day after he was placed under house arrest. Before his arrest, he had said that he had received a warrant from the Presidential Police, accusing him of "sedition and refusal to appear before the court". Mukasi's lawyer, Gabriel Sinarinzi, and a human rights organisation, Ligue Sonera, had termed the arrest illegal and denounced as inhumane the conditions under which Mukasi was being held. Mukasi has been arrested several times in connection with his opposition to the transitional government.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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