afrol News, 11 June - Burundi's government and rebel group have renewed their commitment on Tuesday to end brutal ethic conflict that has devastated country during talks in Magaliesberg, west of Johanesburg, South Africa.

Burundi government and Palipehutu Forces for National Liberation (FNL) agreed to speed up process to end hostilities after two days meeting which ended on Tuesday attended by a group of special envoys in Burundi, which consisted of Western and African diplomats.

Parties also agreed that FNL, led by Mr Agathon Rwasa, would be accommodated in political institutions and its fighters taken into the security and defense forces of Burundi.

South Africa's special envoy to Burundi peace process, Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo, urged all parties to honour their obligations in supporting the new peace initiative.

He said both parties were eager to prove that they had reached an agreement and that they are ready to build peace.

"Both parties will endeavour to address simultaneously all outstanding political issues, including political accommodation of the Palipehutu-FNL in national institutions as well as integration of its combatants in the security and defense forces," Ambassador said.

In a joint statement, parties appealed to all groups in Burundi to refrain from any action that could jeopardise progress achieved and expressed their commitment to conclude the peace process.

Mr Rwasa said FNL forces are ready to disband and want peace with Burundi's ethnically mixed, Hutu-led government.

President Pierre Nkurunziza, a former Hutu guerrilla, was elected in 2005 as part of an African-brokered peace agreement backed by United Nations.

Mr Rwasa, and the government's chief negotiator Major-General Evariste Ndayishimiye, arrived in South Africa on Sunday.

Mr Rwasa's return to Burundi from Tanzania last month, marked a new step in moves to end the civil war. End of negotiations marks a new beginning for Burundi to end 15 years of bloodshed that has killed over 300,000 people.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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