Burundi Rebel Groups Urged to Cease Hostilities

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, December 08, 2001

Burundi Rebel Groups Urged to Cease Hostilities

The United Nations Security Council on Friday again called on the rebel groups in Burundi to cease hostilities and enter into negotiations with the transitional government which came into office on November 1.The 15-member council strongly condemned the recent "unjustifiable" attacks launched by rebels, and urged regional countries to use their influence on the rebels for the stop of hostilities, said Ambassador Moctar Quane of Mali, the council president for the month of December.

The council invited President Omar Bongo of Gabon and Vice-President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, with the support of the countries of the region, to initiate as soon as possible the process of negotiations between the armed groups and government, Quane said in a press statement.

The two mediators were entrusted with the job of facilitating negotiations at the Regional Initiative Summit of October 11.Voicing its concern at the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Burundi, the council reiterated its appeal to all the parties to guarantee access by the humanitarian organizations to the populations in distress throughout the territory.

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