United Nations officials have said the Burundi government policy of forcibly moving people into camps is a clear breach of international humanitarian law.

The officials said the UN would press the government to disband the camps, which are now home to hundreds of thousands of people, and where there have been reports of cholera and malnutrition.

But Burundi's ambassador to the UN Marc Nteturuye said that the camp inmates now enjoyed greater security and living conditions. The camps were established to clear the way for government operations against Hutu rebels. Correspondents say the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, is expected to criticise the policy of forced relocation at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday which will be attended by the new mediator, the former South African president, Nelson Mandela. Mr Mandela is to hold his first meeting with the opposing sides in the conflict in the Tanzanian town of Arusha tomorrow.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service