Burundi Government Denies Arming Supporters

Burundi's government on Friday fiercely denied accusations that it was arming young supporters of the ruling party, amid renewed concerns over political violence in a nation still healing from decades of conflict.

Local media have been quoting from an alleged internal United Nations report that reportedly sounded the alarm over "allegations" that members of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza's party, were being armed and trained in weapons use.

The U.N. also issued a sharp warning to the small central African nation's government on Thursday, urging it to halt political violence and respect human rights. A similar appeal was made during a visit to Burundi this week by Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

"It's false and made up. We categorically deny these allegations in the U.N. report. The government in Bujumbura cannot support the distribution of weapons to young Imbonerakure members," deputy presidential spokesman Willy Nyamitwe said.

Burundi is growing increasingly tense in the run-up to presidential elections in 2015, when President Nkurunziza is expected to campaign for a third term in office despite a two-term constitutional limit.

Tensions have worsened in recent weeks after the main Tutsi party, Uprona, withdrew from the Hutu-dominated government.

But Nyamitwe insisted that "there is no political violence in Burundi, this country is on a democratic path."

Burundi's ministers of public security, justice and defense also held a news conference to deny the allegations, but resisted calls from the U.N.'s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng -- who also visited Burundi this week -- for an independent probe.

Justice Minister Pascal Barandagiye said the allegations reportedly contained in the U.N. report were based on "rumor" and did therefore did not merit an investigation.