Burundi talks blow for Mandela

Mandela and Buyoya met in Johannesburg last week

Former South African president Nelson Mandela is in the Tanzanian town of Arusha to preside over a two-day summit aimed at ending Burundi's seven-year civil war.

The conflict, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives, pits a variety of Hutu rebel groups against a government and army dominated by the Tutsi minority.

For the first time, one of the main Hutu rebel groups, the FDD, is joining the peace talks - but another Hutu rebel faction Palipehutu-FNL has unexpectedly announced it is staying away.

Hutus in regroupment camps have endured miserable conditions

According to the UN news service IRIN, the group accuses Mr Mandela of a lack of objectivity and has warned that unless "intrigues" were removed from the process, there would be more bloodshed.

Mr Mandela began by addressing the six regional heads of state who have gathered for the meeting, including Burundian President Pierre Buyoya.

A draft peace plan has been circulated, which ensivages a transitional government, integration of Hutu rebels into the Tutsi-dominated army, and an electoral system to ensure power-sharing.

Mr Mandela has said he wants the agreement signed by the end of next month.

But a BBC correspondent in Burundi says that there are still attacks and ambushes every week, and little sign of a real political consensus.

Hardline Tutsi parties have also threatened to boycott any settlement approved by the rebels.

For the first time, dissident Hutu rebel leader Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye is taking part in the talks.

Ceasefire

Mr Ndayikengurukiye, who heads the other main rebel group, the National Committee for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), is expected to meet Mr Mandela on Wednesday.

He will also hold his first direct talks with President Buyoya on a possible ceasefire.

Some 19 Burundian parties taking part in the peace talks have been holding negotiations since Monday.

'Concentration camps'

Last month, Mr Mandela visited Burundi, where he met political prisoners and toured the controversial regroupment camps.

The camps, housing hundreds of thousands of Hutu civilians, have attracted international condemnation and the former South African president has previously called them "concentration camps".

The Burundian Government, which said the camps were set up to protect the civilians from rebel attacks, has begun closing them and promised to have them all shut down by the end of July.

In a report published on Wednesday, the American based group Human Rights Watch accuses the government of failing to close the camps as promised.

The organisation also accuses Burundian soldiers of torturing and killing suspected rebels found in the camps, and for raping women residents.