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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Heavy shelling in Burundi capital | Heavy shelling in Burundi capital |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Burundi's army has launched a counter-attack after the capital was shelled overnight by suspected rebels. | Burundi's army has launched a counter-attack after the capital was shelled overnight by suspected rebels. |
| A BBC correspondent in the city says the sound of explosions and gunfire could be heard throughout the night. | A BBC correspondent in the city says the sound of explosions and gunfire could be heard throughout the night. |
| An army spokesman says four soldiers and 10 rebels were killed in the clashes, reports Reuters news agency. | An army spokesman says four soldiers and 10 rebels were killed in the clashes, reports Reuters news agency. |
| Peace deals have been signed with most of Burundi's rebel groups, including one which now forms the government, except the FNL, which remains active. | Peace deals have been signed with most of Burundi's rebel groups, including one which now forms the government, except the FNL, which remains active. |
| The military's deputy spokesman Colonel Justace Ciza said the fighting had broken out in Bubanza, 50km (30 miles) north-west of the capital, Bujumbura. | The military's deputy spokesman Colonel Justace Ciza said the fighting had broken out in Bubanza, 50km (30 miles) north-west of the capital, Bujumbura. |
| "FNL rebels shelled mortar bombs and threw hand grenades on our different positions... but we retaliated," he said, Reuters reports. | "FNL rebels shelled mortar bombs and threw hand grenades on our different positions... but we retaliated," he said, Reuters reports. |
| He told the AFP news agency there were clashes in numerous locations around the city following a "major attack" by the rebels. | |
| 'Self-defence' | 'Self-defence' |
| But an FNL spokesman said the army had started the fighting. | But an FNL spokesman said the army had started the fighting. |
| "This was self-defence," said FNL spokesman Pasteur Habimana from Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. | "This was self-defence," said FNL spokesman Pasteur Habimana from Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. |
| The BBC's Prime Ndikumagenge in Bujumbura says a ceasefire was agreed with the FNL more than a year ago but it has not been implemented. | The BBC's Prime Ndikumagenge in Bujumbura says a ceasefire was agreed with the FNL more than a year ago but it has not been implemented. |
| Witnesses have told him they saw troops and armoured vehicles heading to the hillsides north of the capital, shortly before the shelling started. | Witnesses have told him they saw troops and armoured vehicles heading to the hillsides north of the capital, shortly before the shelling started. |
| Ex-rebel Pierre Nkurunziza was elected president in 2005 under a deal to end years of conflict between the Tutsi army and Hutu rebels. | Ex-rebel Pierre Nkurunziza was elected president in 2005 under a deal to end years of conflict between the Tutsi army and Hutu rebels. |
| 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. |