Gov't to verify rebel group's offer to hold peace talks

The Burundian government will not immediately give credence to an offer by the country's remaining rebel group, the Forces nationales de liberation (FNL), to enter into negotiations until it receives the input of a regional initiative aimed at bringing lasting peace to the country, the government's spokesman said on Monday. Reacting to reports that the FNL had offered on Saturday to enter into unconditional peace talks with the government, Ramadhan Karenga said in Bujumbura that the offer was not the first by the rebel group. Speaking at a news conference in Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, FNL leader Agathon Rwasa said his movement was ready for talks at "any time for the sake of peace in Burundi." He added: "We are ready to negotiate with the current government in Burundi on what to do to stop hostilities in our country. We want lasting peace." He accused the Burundian government of fuelling continued instability in the country, saying its troops were attacking, torturing and killing several members of the FNL. "There some of our colleagues who have been murdered in cold blood, tortured and at least 5,000 FNL supporters are in detention," Rwasa said. It was not immediately known when the proposed talks would start, although Tanzania's foreign minister, Asha-Rose Migiro, who held talks with Rwasa, said her country would continue to provide facilitation. "For many years we have been supporting the peace process and we are going to continue doing so," Migiro said. Speaking in Bujumbura on Monday, Karenga said it was not for Rwasa to call for negotiations. He said the government would take into consideration the view of the regional initiative, the only forum mandated by the international community to help bring lasting peace to Burundi. Karenga said Tanzania's mediation team would hear the FNL and report to the chairman of the regional initiative, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who would be entitled to call a meting. "That is what we are waiting for, if it is done, we will respond positively," Karenga said. After a meeting with Burundian Vice-President Martin Nduwimana on a visit to Dar es Salaam last week, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete told reporters that the FNL issue would be settled in few months. "Give us only few months and we will finish with the FNL," Kikwete said. Kikwete said the mediation team had convinced the movement that fighting was not an option. Leaders of some Burundian political parties hailed the FNL move but called on the movement to respect its pledges. The chairman of the Front pour la democratie au Burundi, Leonce Ngendakumana, said the FNL's offer could help Burundi recover lasting peace. The spokesman of the Movement for the rehabilitation of citizens, Laurent Nzeyimana, said the government and the FNL should first negotiate a ceasefire. The government of Pierre Nkurunziza had expressed its readiness to negotiate with the FNL. Soon after his inauguration in August 2005, Nkurunziza set up an eight-member team for this purpose. However, the FNL had until Saturday rejected negotiations with the government, calling, instead, for talks with the Tutsi community, for what it calls a "social contract".