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Burundi jail term for 'plotter' | Burundi jail term for 'plotter' |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Burundi's Supreme Court has sentenced one of the country's most powerful politicians, Hussein Radjabu, to 13 years in prison for subversion. | Burundi's Supreme Court has sentenced one of the country's most powerful politicians, Hussein Radjabu, to 13 years in prison for subversion. |
The former ruling party chairman was accused of plotting an armed rebellion and insulting the president by referring to him as an "empty bottle". | The former ruling party chairman was accused of plotting an armed rebellion and insulting the president by referring to him as an "empty bottle". |
Reporters say the move will create an even deeper rift in the ex-rebel Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD). | Reporters say the move will create an even deeper rift in the ex-rebel Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD). |
The party won polls in 2005 ending 12 years of civil conflict. | The party won polls in 2005 ending 12 years of civil conflict. |
Anger | Anger |
Mr Radjabu's differences with President Pierre Nkurunzinza came to the fore in February last year after delegates at a special congress of the ruling party replaced him as chairman. | Mr Radjabu's differences with President Pierre Nkurunzinza came to the fore in February last year after delegates at a special congress of the ruling party replaced him as chairman. |
He was then arrested in April 2007. | He was then arrested in April 2007. |
The BBC's Prime Ndikumagenge in the capital, Bujumbura, says his sentence is expected to anger the minority Muslim community, of which Mr Radjabu is a leading member. | The BBC's Prime Ndikumagenge in the capital, Bujumbura, says his sentence is expected to anger the minority Muslim community, of which Mr Radjabu is a leading member. |
It will also anger many in the national assembly, where a third of the MPs are believed to support him, he says. | It will also anger many in the national assembly, where a third of the MPs are believed to support him, he says. |
President Nkurunziza has carried out two cabinet reshuffles since the fall-out, replacing most of Mr Radjabu's supporters, including the vice-president, from key government positions. | President Nkurunziza has carried out two cabinet reshuffles since the fall-out, replacing most of Mr Radjabu's supporters, including the vice-president, from key government positions. |
Divisions within the ruling party last year prompted fears of renewed violence. | Divisions within the ruling party last year prompted fears of renewed violence. |
Since independence in 1961, Burundi has been plagued by tension between the dominant Tutsi minority and Hutu majority. | Since independence in 1961, Burundi has been plagued by tension between the dominant Tutsi minority and Hutu majority. |
More than 300,000 people died in the war sparked in 1993 by the assassination of Burundi's first Hutu head of state and democratically elected president, Melchior Ndadaye. | More than 300,000 people died in the war sparked in 1993 by the assassination of Burundi's first Hutu head of state and democratically elected president, Melchior Ndadaye. |
Hutu rebels, such as the FDD, took up arms before South Africa brokered a power-sharing deal in 2001. | Hutu rebels, such as the FDD, took up arms before South Africa brokered a power-sharing deal in 2001. |
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