SA troops arrive in Burundi

The first contingent of South African troops has arrived in Burundi, as the peace process there moves to a new stage.

They're to form a protection force for politicians returning from exile to join a power-sharing transitional government that's due to be sworn in at the beginning of next month.

About 700 South African troops are expected to make up the force.

Nineteen Burundian political parties representing Hutus and Tutsis have signed the peace accord, but two Hutu rebel groups have still not agreed a ceasefire.

The mediator in the Burundi peace talks, the former South African president, Nelson Mandela, asked President Mbeki to provide the troops to break a deadlock in the negotiations.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service