More than 15,000 civilians flee fighting in west

Between 15,000 and 20,000 civilians have fled continuing fighting that erupted last week between the army and rebels of the Forces nationales de liberation (FNL) faction of Alain Mugabarabona in Kabezi Commune, about 20 km south of capital, Bujumbura, in western Burundi. Radio Publique Africaine reported on Tuesday that the displaced people were from the regions of Mwaza, Gitenga, Mubone and Kiremba. Some of them had found refuge in Mutumba, others in Karinzi in Mutambu Commune and in Rusiba in the Rusiba zone. Kabezi Communal Administrator Felicien Ntahombaye said he deplored the persistence of insecurity in his commune and called on humanitarian agencies to help the displaced, who had nothing to eat and nowhere to take shelter, the Burundi human rights NGO, Ligue Iteka, reported on Wednesday.