Burundi has welcomed a ceasefire declaration by the Hutu rebel Forces for National Liberation (FNL) that has so far refused to join efforts to end a decade-long war in the tiny central African country.
The FNL announced the decision for an immediate ceasefire after a three-day meeting by its top cadre in the northwestern Tanzania town of Kigoma, boosting hopes for an end to the war.
Rebels from the Hutu majority have fought a decade-long civil war to end military and economic dominance by the minority Tutsi community. An estimated 300,000 people have been killed.
The FNL is the only Hutu rebel group still fighting the government, often attacking troops from its stronghold close to the capital. "We wanted to prove that we want peace despite the several attacks led by the army and the FDD," FNL spokesman Mr Pasteur Habimana said.
The rebels also declared their intention to join the transitional government, but said it would only do so if the international community put pressure on the government troops and former main rebel movement Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD), who are now part of the government, to stop attacks against its stronghold close to the capital.
"This is our great wish to see the FNL joining the government. The army will never attack the FNL if the security of the population is not threatened," a government spokesman said.
The FNL said it would suspend its ceasefire decision if it is attacked by the army. "If we are attacked, we will respond for self defence," said Mr Habimana.
A series of clashes have followed rejection by the rebels of an offer to join the government in January. Political analysts say the fighting damages hopes the country can hold elections planned by the end of the year under a 2000 peace accord.
Hopes for the polls rose sharply late last year when the main Hutu rebel group, the FDD, agreed to stop fighting and joined the coalition government.