Assembly elects Minani as speaker

Burundi's transitional National Assembly has elected Jean Minani, of the Front pour la democratie au Burundi (FRODEBU, as its speaker, a senior party official told IRIN on Thursday. Minani garnered 115 votes while his rival, Augustin Nzojibwami, received 53. Nzojibwami heads the other FRODEBU faction. "This is the best thing for the moment," Therence Nahimana, an MP representing civil society, told IRIN. "Both [President] Pierre Buyoya and Jean Minani are the leaders of the strongest political wings. They are the ones who have worked hard in the negotiations, and it would only be wise for them to work together on the implementation of the peace agreement," Nahimana added. Minani and Nzojibwami each head different factions of FRODEBU. The election was postponed recently to allow FRODEBU to choose one of the four candidates for the post, including the immediate former vice-president, Frederic Bamvuginyunvira, who until Wednesday had vowed to stand as an independent candidate after rejecting his party's calls to step down in favour of Minani. FRODEBU parliamentary group leader Fidele Habonimana said that Bamvuginyunvira did not stand because of "internal party reasons". The fourth parliamentarian, Pierre Barusasiyeko, stepped down for Minani. The Union pour le progres national's (UPRONA) candidate for the post of deputy speaker, Frederic Ngenzebuhoro, also defeated his two challengers from the same party after gaining 112 votes against 57 for the other two candidates. The post of speaker is usually filled by FRODEBU, which won the 1993 elections, while UPRONA, which came second, fills that of deputy speaker.