Opposition demands delay in forming transitional government

Two anti-government groups have called for a delay in setting up the proposed transitional government in Burundi scheduled for 1 November, the Hirondelle News Agency reported on Tuesday. It reported that in a letter to the chief mediator in the Burundi crisis, Nelson Mandela, the respective leaders of PALIPEHUTU and FROLINA, Etienne Karatasi and Joseph Karumba, said they wanted the delay until the special protection force to guard institutions of the new government and returning political exiles had been set up. Negotiators failed to work out details for the proposed force at a meeting in Arusha on Monday. The Implementation and Monitoring Committee on the Burundi peace agreement is also due to examine this problem at its five-day meeting that began in Arusha on Wednesday. Diplomats have told IRIN that negotiators have already agreed that the force will comprise equal numbers of Hutu and Tutsi personnel. However, the overall personnel strength, methods of recruitment and training were still to be decided.