Tutsi parties threaten boycott

Five ethnic Tutsi political parties in Burundi are threatening not to take part in the power-sharing transitional government that's due to be sworn in at the beginning of next month.

The five parties, known as the G5 ,are continuing to negotiate with President Pierre Buyoya and Hutu political parties but two of them have told the BBC that if the negotiations are not successful then they may not participate in the government.

They've been demanding joint control with the Hutu political parties of various ministries including those of labour, education and health.

The G5 said that they rejected the presence of foreign troops on Burundi's territory and they accused the president of being unwilling to work with Tutsi political parties as a whole and of pushing them aside to negotiate with Hutu political parties.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service