BUJUMBURA, Jan 23 (AFP) - The governor of a province in the central African state of Burundi was killed in ambush Sunday believed to have been carried out by the National Liberation Forces (FNL), the last rebel force still holding out in the war-torn country.
Governor Isaie Bigirimana of the western province of Bubanza was returning home from a visit to the Burundi capital Bujumbura when he and his bodygard were killed.
"He was ambushed by the FNL at 17h15 (15h15 GMT) near Gihanga ," said the army spokesman, Major Adolphe Manirakiza. "He was killed on the spot together with the police officer acting as his bodyguard."
No FNL cofficials were immediately reachable to confirm that the organisation had in fact carried out the attack some 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of the capital.
"This act is a great dishonour to the group who committed it, especially as we have begun a peace process that is advancing little by little," said Interior Minister Simon Nyandwi.
Burundi, which is struggling to emrge from an 11 year-old civil war that claimed more than 300,000 lives, is currently in a transitional phase of government which due to end with presidential elections later this year.
Sunday's killing was the first time in eight years that a senior administrative official at this level was assassinated in Burundi.
The last victim was Colonel Marcel Sinarinzi, govenror of Cibitoke province, hw owas killed in a 1997 ambush.
01/23/2005 18:50 GMT - AFP