BBC News Online: World: Africa

Burundi killings shatter peace hopes

South African peacekeepers are in Bujumbura

The attacks come just days after the inauguration of a new government, which shares power between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis.

Hundreds of thousands of people have died in the eight-year civil war.

Front for the Defence of Democracy rebels killed 24 civilians, including women and children, in attacks on southern Bururi province, south-east of Bujumbura.

Earlier, the FDD ambushed three cars in Ruyigi Province, east of Bujumbura, killing 11 passengers.

Three soldiers were killed in violence at the weekend.

Nearly all political parties are represented in the new cabinet but the FDD and another Hutu rebel group have rejected a ceasefire agreement and vowed to continue their war against the Tutsi-dominated army.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who has spent two years seeking to bring peace to Burundi, portrayed the new government as a vital step towards ending the fighting.

But he became increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress towards a ceasefire and has now stepped down as mediator.

Ethnic tension

Burundian President Pierre Buyoya, who is a Tutsi, will remain in office for the first 18 months before handing over to a Hutu.

In the new cabinet 14 out of the 26 portfolios went to Hutus and 12 to Tutsis.

The Tutsis hold the positions of defence, foreign affairs and finance whilst the Hutus keep the ministries of public security and interior.

The Tutsi minority has dominated Burundi politics for nearly 40 years.

The war between a Tutsi-dominated government and Hutu rebels was started in 1993 following the death of an elected Hutu president.