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Release sought of detained political leader

    NAIROBI

    The defence lawyer for Alphonse Rugambarara, leader of the MSP-Inkinzo party and spokesman for the G-8 group of Tutsi parties opposed to President Pierre Buyoya, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of his client. Laurent Nzeyimana said Rugambarara’s arrest and detention were “irregular” and a violation of the new law on penal reform which came into effect on 1 January 2001, the private Netpress news agency reported. Rugambarara was recently arrested on charges of “spreading subversion”, shortly after addressing a news conference to explain the latest round of talks in Arusha, although Burundi’s prosecutor-general denied there was a link. The G-8 group, negotiating in Arusha, backs the candidacy of former interior minister Colonel Epitace Bayaganakandi as transitional president.

    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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