UN takes over Burundi peace role

International troops in Burundi will now be wearing blue berets

A 5,000-strong United Nations force has taken over peacekeeping operations in Burundi to support the peace process.

African Union troops already deployed in Burundi put on the UN blue helmets in a handover ceremony.

The mission starts as South African mediators are struggling to reach an agreement on when to hold elections.

They are due in October to mark the end of a transitional authority. The government wants them postponed, despite opposition from former rebels.

The talks between the Burundi government and six former rebel groups in South Africa have been extended in a bid to find an agreement.

Stalemate

"We are ready for elections as scheduled. We do not want any delay," said Pierre Nkurunziza, the leader of the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD).

The FDD, which used to be the largest rebel group, pulled out of the transitional government earlier this month, saying it had not been given the jobs agreed in a peace deal.

But President Domitien Ndayizeye last week said a postponement was necessary to guarantee the polls would take place "in full security".

"Former armed groups will be turned into political parties and will go to the polls," he said.

"So before going to the elections, the population, militia groups and what we call 'militant combatants' must all be disarmed".

Power-transfer

Some 2,700 troops from South Africa, Mozambique and Ethiopia are already in Burundi.

Mr Ndayizeye, a Hutu, took over from Tutsi Pierre Buyoya.

The Pretoria talks come ahead of a regional summit on Burundi due to kick off in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

The summit should assess the progress made since a transitional authority was set up in 2001.

The interim government was led by Tutsi Pierre Buyoya for the first 18 months.

Mr Ndayizeye, a Hutu, took over in May 2003.

Some 300,000 people have been killed since the civil war broke out in 1993.