Rwanda: December 2, 2003

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FNL Hutu rebel leaders walked out of the new Burundi peace talks. The peace conference in Nairobi, promoted by several African governments, was an attempt to bring the FNL into the transition government with the Burundian Tutsis and the FDD. The US and UN are also involved. A subsequent report, based on interviews with FNL leaders, reiterated FNL charges that the negotiations with the Burundian government will be fruitless as long as the Tutsis continue to control the Burundian Army. The FNL claims to have thousands of fighters in the field. Military analysts familiar with the Hutu resistance in Burundi put the figure at 1500 to 3000 fighters, with the lower figure more likely.