Nairobi - The death toll in Burundi after a Hutu rebel attack near Bujumbura airport on Thursday has risen to 284, mainly civilians and rebels, an army spokesman said yesterday.
Lieut-Col Mamert Sinarinzi said by telephone from Bujumbura that even that count could rise as an army search operation continued. The rebel force of around 1,000 men fled into Burundi's treacherous bush after initially slaughtering 150 civilians, mainly women and children.
The dawn raid was one of the most daring attacks on the capital since the military ruler, Gen Pierre Buyoya, took power in 1996.
