Burundi army threatens to enter Congo

The head of Burundi's army, Brigadier-General Germain Niyoyankana, said the military was prepared to move into Democratic Republic of Congo if the Kinshasa government failed to disarm the rebels and allied militia.

"We must avoid a new attack from Congo so the Burundi army does not rule out an offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Everything depends on the Congolese government," Niyoy-ankana told reporters.

The Burundi army blames the rebel Hutu Forces for National Liberation (FNL), former Rwandan forces and Hutu militia operating in Congo, as well as sections of the Congolese army for Friday's attack.

The FNL, the only rebel group still fighting the Burundian government, claimed responsibility for the attack in which refugees were burned, hacked and shot to death.

The United Nations said on Tuesday it has suspended peace talks with the FNL for taking part in the massacre, one of the worst in central Africa in years.

The army welcomed the suspension but urged the international community to take stiffer action against the FNL.

"The FNL has proved that it does not want to talk peace. The world must impose sanctions against these people," Niyoyankana said, urging the international community to ensure that the rebels do not get fresh supplies of weapons.

Burundi, which on Sunday closed its border with Congo, is one of six neighboring countries that fought in the DRC during the war but it has since withdrawn.

Rwanda has also said it could be forced to send its forces back into Congo to hunt down rebels it blames for the attack on the refugees.