BBC News | AFRICA | Army blamed for Burundi massacre low graphics version | feedback | help You are in: World: Africa Front Page World Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia ----------- From Our Own Correspondent ----------- Letter From America UK UK Politics Business Sci/Tech Health Education Entertainment Talking Point In Depth AudioVideo Monday, 31 July, 2000, 15:14 GMT 16:14 UK Army blamed for Burundi massacre Internal regroupment camps should be closed by now Villagers in a remote area of eastern Burundi have blamed the army for a recent massacre of 53 civilians, many of them women and children. The military authorities deny this saying that the killings were the work of Hutu rebels based in neighbouring Tanzania. Villagers said the mainly Tutsi army had killed a large group of people on a hill near the town of Ruyigi, because they had refused to move into a temporary "regroupment" camp, while the army was searching for rebels. The Burundi army is dominated by Tutsis Monday was the deadline for the government to dismantle all the controversial camps, after widespread international criticism of the policy, especially from former South African President Nelson Mandela, the peace mediator. President Mandela's efforts to to end the seven-year old conflict sufferered a severe blow earlier this month, when both the Burundian Government and rebels failed to back a peace plan. Bullet wounds The villagers said they had buried 53 bodies, among them 18 women and 16 children, all with bullet wounds. "The administration and the military came to our village two weeks ago and said everybody must leave their houses and go to the regroupment camp," one villager told Reuters news agency. No peace yet for Mr Mandela "Those who were killed had refused to go with us. When we returned, we found them dead. Witnesses said the army came and started shooting at them." Human rights groups have accused both sides of massacres in the past. Hundreds of thousands of mainly Hutus have been forced into regroupment camps around the country in a bid to flush out the rebels. The closure programme has been proceeding, especially in the hills around the capital, Bujumbura, but many still remain in camps and peace still seems far off. Nearly 200,000 people have been killed in the civil war. Under Mr Mandela's draft peace proposals, the Tutsi minority, which has dominated Burundi since independence, would hand over power to a democratically-elected government in three years' time. An ethnic balance will also be created in parliament and the army. Search BBC News Online Advanced search options BBC NEWS 24 BULLETIN BBC ONE TV NEWS WORLD NEWS SUMMARY PROGRAMMES GUIDE See also: 27 Mar 00 | Africa Burundi's deadly deadlock 13 Oct 99 | Africa Eyewitness: Inside Burundi's camps 07 Jun 00 | Africa Burundi deal 'paves way' for peace 28 Jul 00 | Africa New blow to Burundi peace Internet links: UN Burundi news and information Human Rights Watch - Burundi Burundi country profile The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Other top Africa stories: Kenyans mourn bomb victims Crunch time for Burundi talks Free trade zone draws closer Haggling at the Somali peace talks West Africa diamond racket exposed Nigeria considers protection fees for pipelines Zambian politician's house searched for arms D.R. Congo parliament opening postponed Links to top Africa stories are at the foot of the page. Links to other Africa stories In This Section Kenyans mourn bomb victims Crunch time for Burundi talks Free trade zone draws closer Haggling at the Somali peace talks West Africa diamond racket exposed Nigeria considers protection fees for pipelines Zambian politician's house searched for arms D.R. Congo parliament opening postponed Ivory Coast leader calls for peace Confusion in Malawi opposition ^^ Back to top News Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | In-Depth | Talking Point | Audio/Video ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >To BBC Sport