Burundi rebels start to assemble after truce

BUJUMBURA, Sep 13 (Reuters) Hundreds of Burundi rebels have started to leave their hideouts as part of a ceasefire between the government and the last group of insurgents fighting it, an army spokesman said today.

The ceasefire between the government and the Forces of National Liberation (FNL) came into effect on Sunday, lifting hopes of a complete end to ethnic conflict that has killed 300,000 people in the tiny central African country since 1993.

''Rebels have started to leave hideouts in small groups to gather, especially in the west and northwest of Burundi,'' said army spokesman Alphonse Manirakiza.

''The positive thing is that they introduce themselves to local authorities and tell them, 'we are here, don't kill us', and some of them are going to the population and telling them ''do not to be afraid, we have stopped fighting,'' he added.

Under the pact signed in neighbouring Tanzania, the FNL's estimated 3,000 guerrillas are to assemble at camps where they must decide whether to join the national army or be demobilised.

Manirakiza said the rebels are moving out of the forest into populated areas where they will be easily accessible to a joint commission set up to designate camps for them.

The commission, which is expected to be formed this week, will comprise representatives from the government, FNL, United Nations and African Union.

Bringing the hardline Hutu FNL into Burundi's UN-backed peace process is viewed as a crucial step to restoring stability to the nation of 7.5 million people that has suffered successive cycles of bloodshed since independence from Belgium in 1962.

''I think they have decided to leave the bush to look for food.

This followed the message given by the interior minister that the government was ready to supply them with food so that they could stop looting the population,'' Manirakiza said.

REUTERS PB SSC1527