Peace deal implementation body meets

The committee set up to monitor and implement the peace agreement between the Burundi government and anti-government forces began another meeting on Wednesday on aspects of the deal still to go into effect ahead of the establishment of a transitional government on 1 November, diplomatic sources told IRIN. Top on the draft agenda of the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) - meeting in Arusha Tanzania - is the proposed special protection force for the transitional government and returning political exiles. This force is supposed to be set up three weeks before the government starts business, the Hirondelle News Agency reported. However, that has been delayed because details are yet to be worked out about its numerical strength, selection and training. Other agenda items relate to the drafting of laws on political freedom, laws on temporary immunity, and those on genocide and crimes against humanity. The meeting will also discuss the establishment of an independent commission to investigate the question of political prisoners, with a view to securing their release. The government has not yet set up this body nor presented the draft laws to the 29-member IMC. The government's independent commission is to be made up of eight Burundians and four international legal experts provided by the UN, a diplomat in Arusha said.