Tutsis finally accept interim constitution

Concerns over a constitutional crisis in Burundi abated on Monday when six Tutsi-dominated parties dropped their long-standing opposition to the country's current interim constitution.

The interim constitution is necessary to avoid a constitutional void, the chairman of the main Tusti-dominated Parti de l'unite pour le progres national, Jean Baptiste Manwangari, told reporters on Monday.

However, he said his parties still wanted changes to be made to the final constitution.

The interim constitution has been in effect since 20 October when the country's transitional, two-chamber parliament voted for it to stay in force for six months.

Officially, the transition period ended on Monday, but the interim constitution allows the country's institutions to stay in place until elections are held in 2005. Local elections are scheduled for 9 February, communal elections for 23 February and legislative elections for 9 March.

MPs from the Tutsi-dominated parties had boycotted the parliamentary vote on the interim constitution saying it mostly takes into account the interests of Hutu-dominated parties.

A referendum is to be held on 26 November in which voters will be asked whether they want the interim constitution to stand as the permanent constitution after the current transitional government ends.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Tutsi-dominated parties called for dialogue on the final constitution before the referendum takes place and for amendments to be allowed.