Burundi rebels release bishop

Burundian civilians are caught in a ruthless civil war

Rebels in Burundi have freed a Roman Catholic bishop and his driver, who they had been holding since the weekend.

Hutu rebels of the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) took Bishop Joseph Nduhirubusa, of the eastern Ruyigi diocese, to a pre-arranged meeting place in a clearing, north of the capital, Bujumbura.

He was then handed over to representatives of the Catholic Church.

The bishop said he was "glad to be back", and called on all factions to hold talks to end Burundi's civil war which has claimed at least 250,000 lives since 1993.

No government soldiers were seen nearby, apparently a rebel condition for the release.

Mountain trek

The bishop's car was ambushed on Saturday by the FDD on a road known to be dangerous some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Bujumbura.

Two security escorts travelling with him were shot dead.

Buyoya has said he wants to peace

The rebels took Bishop Nduhirubusa and his driver on a three-day walk into the mountains, allowing the bishop to speak to a private radio station to confirm he was alive and well.

One of the FDD's commanders, Manace Nzobonimpa, said the two men, whose car was badly damaged in the ambush, had only been taken for their own safety.

"I want to dismiss reports saying he was kidnapped," he said. "The CNDD-FDD (a splinter group of the FDD) demand the assistance of the Church... to invest in looking for peace in Burundi."

Ethnic conflict

Burundi's civil war pits Hutu rebels against the Tutsi-dominated government of President Pierre Buyoya.

A new power-sharing government was inaugurated last November in the hope of steering the country away from ethnic conflict.

But killings and ambushes have persisted.

The rebels say the army is still dominated by Tutsis and have refused to sign a ceasefire.

Many of Burundi's roads are unsafe and a curfew is in place in Bujumbura.