Burundi rebels hit school

Burundi rebels hit school

Despite a ceasefire deal with the FDD, fighting continues

Two pupils and two teachers have been killed along with soldiers after Burundi's largest rebel group attacked a military checkpoint near a primary school.

A spokesman for the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) rebels said the children and teachers had been killed by accident, along with 10 soldiers.

The students of Bake school in Butaganzwa were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade on Monday, said Isaac Bujaba, governor of Ruyigi province, who said that four soldiers had also been killed, according to the Associated Press news agency.

The FDD signed a ceasefire with the government last December but fighting has continued.

Staying on?

Two other rebel groups have also signed ceasefire agreements but a fourth, the Forces for National Liberation, (FNL) has refused.

Mandela was the architect of the transitional government

However the FNL and the government ended secret consultative talks in Switzerland over the weekend with a pledge to hold future meetings.

More than 300,000 people have been killed in almost 10 years of civil war between ethnic Hutu rebels and the Tutsi-dominated government.

As part of a power-sharing agreement mediated by Nelson Mandela, President Pierre Buyoya is due to step down on 1 May, to be replaced by Hutu Vice President Domitien Ndayizeye.

However, Mr Buyoya has recently hinted that he may not leave power until the fighting stops.