Uganda, the mediator of the Burundi peace talks, on Tuesday said more consultations are need among rival parties before the negotiations resume.

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda told reporters here that there is no need to rush the talks before consensus is built among the parties.

“There is need to do more groundwork and consensus [building] by both parties so that when to reconvene, it is much easier,” he said.

The talks were scheduled to resume in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha Wednesday in a bid to end fighting that has left hundreds of people dead in Burundi and thousands more fleeing to neighboring countries.

The Burundi government said it would not attend the scheduled talks in Arusha because some of the opposition rivals are responsible for the violence in the east African country.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who was chosen by his colleagues in the East African Community told the Burundi government on Dec. 28 to agree to give the opposition immunity so that the talks can take place to end the fighting.

The African Union, a continental body, has proposed to send a contingent of 5,000 peace keeping troops to end the fighting when peace negotiations take place.

Fighting in Burundi erupted in April last year after President Pierre Nkurunziza declared his bid to run for a third term in office, a move that was widely seen as against the country’s constitution.

Placide KayitareAFRICADEMOCRACY & FREEDOMSHUMAN RIGHTSLATEST NEWSUganda, the mediator of the Burundi peace talks, on Tuesday said more consultations are need among rival parties before the negotiations resume. Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda told reporters here that there is no need to rush the talks before consensus is built among the parties. 'There is need to do more...PUBLISHING YOUR NEWS WITH CUTTING EDGE STYLE