Burundi government says days of fighting between rebels and troops kills 97, mostly rebels

KIGALI, Rwanda – Burundi's government says 97 people have been killed in fighting which broke out between a rebel group and government soldiers.

Army spokesman Col. Gaspard Baratuza said Monday that 95 of those killed were members of a rebel group that entered the Central African country from bordering Congo. He said two government soldiers had also been killed in the fighting that started a week ago. Nine rebels were arrested.

Baratuza said the group is yet to be identified. He said the military buried the bodies of the rebels in the gardens of residents some 60 kilometers northwest of the Burundi capital, Bujumbura.

Burundi's government released the information after Civil Society Organization in the country accused the government forces of 'summarily' executing unarmed captured rebels. The government denied the accusations.