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Friday, 7 September 2007, 16:41 GMT 17:41 UK

Grenade at Burundi wedding party

map A grenade has exploded at an engagement party in Burundi, killing 16 people, including the couple to be married.

Ten other people are reported to have been injured in the blast, in the northern village of Gasorwe.

A brother of the bride had the grenade on him. One report says he detonated it when he was not allowed to address the family at the celebrations.

A police spokesman said the incident illustrated the need to disarm people after a long civil war.

He was not a member of the security forces, police spokesman Pierre Channel Ntarabaganyi told the Associated Press news agency.

This raises "the whole question of disarming the civilian population because it is difficult to tell when someone is carrying a grenade," he said.

One rebel group remains active, after refusing to take part in a peace process which saw former rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza elected president in 2005.



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Related to this story:
Burundi rebels in deadly clashes (04 Sep 07 |  Africa )
Rebels in Burundi for peace talks (19 Feb 07 |  Africa )
Burundi's born-again ex-rebel leader (26 Aug 05 |  Africa )
How Burundi's rebels rose to power (08 Jul 05 |  Africa )
Country profile: Burundi (16 Jun 07 |  Country profiles )


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