Burundi rebel factions clash, residents flee homes

BUJUMBURA, Sep 4 (Reuters) Two factions of Burundi's Forces for National Liberation (FNL) rebel group clashed early today, prompting many residents to flee northern Bujumbura suburbs, witnesses told Reuters.

''I saw many people fleeing and they said they were fleeing because there are two rival groups of the FNL fighting in Buterere,'' Prosper Nzeyimana, a resident of Cibitoke area that is close by the fighting, told Reuters.

He said he was woken by sounds of heavy gunfire and explosions.

Burundi's army spokesman, Adolphe Manirakiza, confirmed the fighting was between FNL factions over Agathon Rwasa's leadership.

Both groups have their bases in the Kinama and Buterere suburbs, he said.

''The clashes are between dissidents opposed to Agathon Rwasa as chairman of the FNL and combatants loyal to him,'' Manirakiza told Reuters.

The two factions had also clashed on Sunday but not intensely, residents said.

The FNL is the last guerrilla group opposed to President Pierra Nkurunziza's government. It walked out of a truce monitoring team for the second time last month which sparked fears of renewed fighting in the country of 8 million.

REUTERS NC ND1342