Burundi: hundreds of school children kidnapped

Hundreds of school children kidnapped by opposition Hutu forces have escaped. Situation deteriorating steadily in the country where 200,000 people died in the civil war.

Hundreds of school children have manages to escape from Hutu rebels during a fire-fight with Tutsi government forces. The boys were between 10 and 20 years of age and had been press-ganged into service with the Hutu rebel forces.

250 boys managed to escape during the conflict, while 50 are classified as missing and 20 are still being held captive in Kayanza (north-east) and Ruyigi (eastern Burundi).

The situation in the country has steadily deteriorated since the new government took office on November 1st. The civil war between Hutus and Tutsis in Burundi has cost the country 200,000 lives.

Timofei BYELO PRAVDA.Ru