Burundi villagers accused the Tutsi-dominated army yesterday of burning 43 civilians to death as part of its campaign against Hutu rebels.
The army denied the claim, saying it killed 17 rebels and no civilians during the operation on Monday in Kabezi commune, about 15 km south of Burundi's capital Bujumbura.
Around 150,000 people have died in the civil war between the Tutsi-dominated army and Hutu rebels since 1993, when the country's first elected Hutu president was murdered by troops.
"Government soldiers came on Monday morning, took 43 civilians, put them in a house and burned them (to death)," said a witness interviewed by the independent news and production agency, Studio Ijambo.
Two other witnesses in Kabezi commune provided the same testimony. Journalists were unable to reach Mubone zone in Kabezi, where the killings allegedly took place.
A military commander in the Rural Bujumbura province, Col Juvenal Niyoyunguruza, said the army killed 17 rebels - but no civilians - early on Monday during a military operation in Kabezi commune.
A commander in the Rural Bujumbura province, Col Juvenal Niyoyunguruza, said the army killed 17 rebels - but no civilians - early on Monday.