Burundi president, rebel chief sign truce

DAR ES SALAAM, Monday (Reuters) Burundi's president signed a truce with the only Hutu rebels still fighting his government, boosting efforts to end the tiny African country's decade-long civil war, witnesses said.

President Domitien Ndayizeye and Agathon Rwasa, leader of the extremist Hutu Forces for National Liberation (FNL), signed the cessation of hostilities pact after their first face-to-face talks in the Tanzanian commercial capital of Dar es Salaam.

"We are determined to seek peace," said Rwasa, whose group is regarded as a terrorist organisation by regional leaders.

"If during the process any problem occurs we will discuss it thoroughly and if consensus fails we will ask for mediation."

"Since we have accepted a cessation of hostilities we shall do our best to keep the peace in Burundi."Burundi, a nation of seven million, is slowly emerging from 12 years of war pitting majority Hutus against the politically dominant Tutsi minority.

Some 300,000 people have been killed.A recent resumption of contacts between the government and the FNL has produced the best hope in years among diplomats that Burundi can finally lift one of its last big barriers to peace.

The government broke off all contact with the FNL after the rebels said they were responsible for the massacre of more than 160 Congolese Tutsi refugees at a refugee camp in west Burundi.Since the massacre, regional countries that shepherded Burundi's peace process have dubbed the FNL a terrorist organisation, a label they have said they will lift formally when the FNL shows itself to be committed to peace talks.

Burundian Foreign Minister Therence Sinunguruza said the two parties would set up technical teams in less than one month to decide how to bring about a permanent ceasefire, and would start talks "very soon" on bringing the FNL into the peace process.

Ndayizeye, who shook hands with Rwasa after signing the pact in front of journalists, said: "The first priority is a cessation of hostilities then we shall pursue a ceasefire."