Burundi's army 'back in control'

The Burundi peace talks were overshadowed by events at home

The Burundian army says that it has repulsed a rebel attack on the capital, Bujumbura, and retaken control of the city's suburbs.

Hutu rebels launched their biggest attack in years at the weekend and there have been reports of fighting in the northern suburb of Kinama since then.

The rebel attack, coinciding with the latest Burundi peace talks, forced 30,000 people to flee and left at least 30 people dead.

By Wednesday afternoon the sounds of firing had largely died down, but the rebels insist they are still in the capital.

Denial

"It is a joke what the army is saying," a senior rebel commander told Reuters news agency.

Bujumbura experienced its worst fighting for five years

"We are still in Kinama and we expect to progress further," he added.

Rebels of the Hutu National Liberation Forces or FLN swooped down from their stronghold in the hills surrounding Bujumbura on Saturday and attacked Kinama. It appears that they completely overran it.

Aid appeal

The government has now appealed to Western aid agencies to help people displaced by the fighting.

Most have gone to two traditional assembly points in Bujumbura.

The timing of the rebel attack looks crucial.

The FLN, like the other main rebel group, were not involved in the peace negotiations in the Tanzanian town of Arusha, attended by five African presidents.

And they appear to be sending a clear message to the participants that there can be no peace without their agreement.