Mandela sees Burundi solution

The breakthrough was announced after a mini-summit

There has been a breakthrough in the effort to end Burundi's bloody ethnic fighting, says former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Mr Mandela's announcement followed his talks with five African heads of state on the eve of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit in the Zambian capital, Lusaka.

President Buyoya: Not optimistic

Mr Mandela refused to reveal details of the deal, but senior aides said it called for an ethnic Tutsi to be president for 18 months, and then a Hutu for the next 18 months.

A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday with representatives of Burundi's 19 political factions, army commanders and rebels. "Therefore it would not be proper for us to spell out precisely what we have decided," Mr Mandela said.

In earlier comments at Lusaka Airport, referring to Tuesday's planned meeting, Mr Mandela said, "I have got a surprise for everybody."

The civil war between Burundi's majority Hutu and minority Tutsi has claimed more than 200,000, mostly civilian, lives since 1993.

Mini-summit

The mini-summit was attended by presidents Burundi's President, Pierre Buyoya, Rwanda's Paul Kagame, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Kenya's Daniel arap Moi, Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and Tanzanian Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete.

President Buyoya appeared less optimistic than Mr Mandela.

Asked if he planned to attend the Burundi peace talks scheduled for July 23 in Arusha, Tanzania, Mr Buyoya said, "Maybe there will not be a meeting".

He did not comment on the reported breakthrough, and referred reporters to Mr Mandela for more details.