BURUNDI is in crisis following the collapse of the government in Bujumbura yesterday. There are fears that the small central African state, teetering on the brink of civil war, could now succumb to chaos and anarchy.
Burundi has the same mix of majority Hutus and minority Tutsis as neighbouring Rwanda - which was consumed by genocide and war two years ago.
"The Convention of Government has been dissolved and there is in fact no government in Burundi," a high ranking western official in Bujumbura said.
The night before last President Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, fearing for his life, took refuge in the residence of the United States ambassador in Bujumbura.
The Hutu president was almost lynched on Tuesday by an angry mob at the funeral of 350 Tutsis massacred by Hutu extremists last weekend.
It is now feared that extremists in the largely Tutsi military will try take power by force. The army contains influential officers who were involved in a coup attempt in 1993, during which the first elected Hutu president was assassinated. More than 50,000 members of both communities died in the fighting which followed.
The military has been engaged in an increasingly desperate effort to suppress Hutu rebels who have mounted a series of brutal attacks on Tutsi settlements in recent weeks. The massacre at Bugendena last weekend marked a horrific escalation of the conflict in which hundreds of people are being killed every month.
The fall of the government was brought about by the announcement of the largely Tutsi Uprona party that it had withdrawn from the National Convention of Government, through which it shares power with the Hutu dominated Frodebu party. Uprona has called for the resignation of the Hutu president.
"The president's safety is being, secured by the United States, Mr Ntibantunganya's chief of staff said yesterday. A presidential aide, Mr Mames Bansubiyeko, conceded it was now uncertain whether that the president could stay in office. But, he added, that his departure could lead to total chaos.
The capital was last night calm and there was little evidence on the streets of a military take over, despite the presence of Burundian paratroopers guarding the television station.
Reuter adds: Mr Jean Minani, the chairman of Burundi's largest political party, Frodebu, took refuge in Kenya yesterday, claiming an army coup had taken place in his homeland. However, the army denied that it had any plans to seize power.
Meanwhile, the State Department in Washington said Mr Ntibantunganya would soon leave the ambassador's residence for an unknown destination.
. A spokesman for the Tanaiste and Foreign Minister, who is in Jakarta, said last night that Mr Spring was being kept informed of the developing situation in Burundi and was very concerned. A European Union response was being prepared.