New York: The UN Security Council expressed serious concern about recent bloody clashes between government and rebels in Burundi and threatened possible sanctions against those jeopardizing the peace process.

Amid fears of a resumption of large-scale civil strife in the eastern African country, the council unanimously approved a statement that "condemns the use of violence" and urged the government and the rebel National Liberation Forces (FNL) "to scrupulously respect the ceasefire" reached on September 2006.

It urged both sides to resume their dialogue to overcome obstacles hindering implementation of the 2006 Comprehensive ceasefire Agreement.

The 15-member council stressed that "any attempt to jeopardize peace in Burundi through violent means is unacceptable," and warned of possible "additional measures, as appropriate, in support of peace and stability in Burundi."

Since last Thursday, FNL insurgents have launched an offensive on Bujumbura and four western provinces that has left at least 38 people dead, including two civilians, official sources in Bujumbura said yesterday.

Three years after a civil war that claimed 300,000 lives in the small central African country, the FNL signed a second peace deal with newly elected authorities in September 2006, but it has yet to be implemented.

Burundi is still struggling to recover from the civil war that began in 1993,mainly pitting rebels from the Hutu majority population against the Tutsi minority, which then dominated the army.

A power-sharing government was formed in 2001,while conflict was still taking place, and South Africa mediated among the different sides, until almost all the rebel groups agreed to a ceasefire.
Source : PTI