Clashes claim eight lives in northeast Burundi

Bujumbura- Burundi (PANA) -- At least eight civilians were killed early Wednesday in Burundi's north-eastern province of Cankuzo in clashes between the army and rebels, administrative sources disclosed in the region.
According to Cankuzo governor Aloys Rubuka, the clashes started when two rebels converged on the localities of Musenyi and Gisagara from neighbouring Tanzania, and attacked villagers in their houses.
He added that government troops backed by the local people pushed them back up to the Burundi border.
Rubuka appealed to the people and the security forces to be vigilant in view of renewed violence noted these days throughout the country.
Violence has also hit Burundi's northwestern provinces such as Bubanza and its Forest Reserve of Kibira.
According to Gilbert Kayonde, governor of Bubanza, the communes of Rugazi and Masigati have particularly been hit, forcing locals to run away from their homes.