New enlarged parliament for Burundi

BBC News, Thursday 16 July 1998

Parliament in Burundi has been enlarged by forty seats, as part of reforms designed to make the government more representative.

Only the two main parties -- Frodebu and Uprona -- were represented in the previous parliament.

The new one offers seats to all parties and some representatives of civil societies, although some parties have refused to take their seats.

The reforms follow sanctions imposed by neighbouring states after Major Pierre Buyoya seized power two years ago.

The government, political parties and rebel representataives aredue to return to Tanzania for peace talks on Monday.