Burundi ceasefire blow

More parties signed the accord - but the rebels refused

Burundi's two main Hutu rebel groups have refused to sign a cease-fire at the latest round of peace talks which took place in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) and the National Liberation Forces (FNL) said they had had no input into the process aimed at ending the country's seven-year civil war.

Arusha peace accord

Power sharing government

Ethnic balance in security forces

Equal representation in civil service

Three year transition period

No mention of ceasefire

Accepted by 17 warring parties

Rejected by two main Hutu groups

Regional heads of state in Nairobi attending the summit threatened action against the rebels if they do not stop fighting.

Three small Tutsi-lead political parties which had so far refused to sign the Arusha peace accord did so in the morning.

Wednesday's meeting was attended by presidents Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya, Pierre Buyoya of Burundi, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania.

Ceasefire call

In a statement they called for an "immediate suspension of hostilities pending the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement" within 30 days.

President Yoweri Museveni is talking tough

They also threatened sanctions against the rebels.

They "reserved the right to take such action or initiative as may be necessary in conjunction with the United Nations and international community in general to put an end to the cycle of hostilities."

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda again warned the Hutu rebels that they face tough sanctions unless they sign the peace accord - but it is unclear just how effective they could be.

Accord

Last month, the Burundian government together with Tutsi and Hutu political groups signed a peace agreement in Tanzania, but all made it clear more work needed to be done on the details of the accord.

Since the signing, fighting between the government army and Hutu rebels has continued.

At least 200,000 civilians have been killed since Burundi's civil war began in 1993.

Arusha accord calls for an ethnic balance in Burundi's army

Burundi's civil war has pitted the mainly Tutsi-dominated army and government against the Hutu rebels who want a share in power.

Even though Hutus form about 85% of the population, the minority Tutsis have traditionally held sway in the political and military arenas.

The peace accord signed last month by the government and various Tutsi and Hutu political parties aims to create a new balance.