Rebels kill one, abduct woman, cut off power

Rebels in Burundi killed a man, abducted a woman and her baby and cut off power lines in two main towns in that same area, leaving tens of thousands of residents without electricity, AFP quoted official sources as saying at the weekend. Some 50 rebels of the Forces pour la defense de la democratie (FDD) reportedly attacked Gatete in southwestern Rumonge region on Thursday, AFP said. “One man was killed and a woman was kidnapped. The woman had a baby on her back and he was taken with her,” the official said. “A lot of gunfire was exchanged with civilian militia and six grenades were launched. It was really powerful,” the sources said, adding that rebels looted 25 homes and stole livestock and food supplies. Meanwhile, in Nyanza-lac and Rumonge proper, residents were plunged into darkness the same night after FDD rebels knocked down power pylons in mountains overlooking the area, AFP quoted an official from the state-run power company as saying. “Two pylons were knocked down in a mountainous region between Rumonge and Nyemanga,” the official said. He noted that the repairs on the lines would take at least two weeks.