First talks for Burundi rebels

President Ndayizeye, a Hutu, has not been able to end the war

Hutu rebels opposed to Burundi's power-sharing government have been meeting senior Tutsi government figures at a secret location in Nairobi.

The first talks between the two sides began on Saturday, although the rebels refuse to recognise the government.

On Sunday, two rebels belonging to the main Hutu group arrived in the capital to take up their ministerial posts.

Some 300,000 people died in a brutal 10-year civil war between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi-dominated army.

In the Kenyan capital, a spokesman for the National Liberation Forces said they did not recognise the legitimacy of the government, and were meeting officials and military leaders merely in their capacity as members of the Tutsi minority.

"We are not negotiating with the government of President Domitien Ndayizeye, but with Tutsi delegates," FNL spokesman Pasteur Habimana told AFP news agency.

FDD role

But in Bujumbura, the new FDD ministers said they were happy to return home from exile under the terms of a peace agreement reached with the FDD earlier this month.

COALITION GOVERNMENT 4 FDD ministers 40% of army officers 15 MPs Second assembly vice-president Assembly deputy secretary general 2 ambassadors 35% of a new police force 35% of vacant secret service posts FDD fighters to be demobilised Q&A: Burundi's peace moves

The new interior minister, Simon Nyandwi, said it was important Burundians moved away from what had divided them.

New communications minister, Onesime Nduwimana, said he wanted to restore confidence between the authorities and journalists.

Several more senior FDD officials are expected in Bujumbura by the end of the week, including FDD leader Pierre Nkurunziza.

With the arrival of the FDD ministers, optimism is growing that long-running efforts to secure peace may finally be paying off.