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PALIPEHUTU-FNL rebels have denied reports that they are ready for direct
talks with the Burundi government, the Hirondelle news agency reported. In
a press release, the group's leader, Cossan Kabura, said a recent
declaration to this effect by Lydia Maxilius, the vice-president of the
Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa was "totally false". "Just as we informed the international facilitator [Nelson Mandela], PALIPEHUTU-FNL is willing to hold direct political talks with the Bujumbura government provided that the same government unbans it [the
movement]," Kabura stated. "We are waiting for a written reply." He said
that in the meantime the "armed struggle continues unabated".
PALIPEHUTU-FNL, along with the other main rebel group CNDD-FDD, has stayed
outside the Arusha peace process. However, CNDD-FDD last month held its
first direct talks with the government in Libreville, Gabon, and the
process is expected to continue.
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