Government spokeswoman Hafsa Mossi told a press conference in Bujumbura that the Palipehutu-FNL is not respecting the ceasefire accord by demanding that it should be recognized as a political party before demobilization. "Article 2 of the 18 June 2006 accord says the Palipehutu shall not demand to be legalised in compliance with the law before separating its political branch from the military one," the spokesperson said. She added that the accord stipulates that after implementation of the ceasefire, parties should not enroll supplementary forces and that what the FNL was doing was tantamount to preparation for armed confrontation. However, FNL leader Agaton Rwasa denied recruiting new combatants saying that the rebel group can not feed the combatants it has and are therefore not in a position to increase the burden. During a press conference in Bujumbura on July 6, 2008 Rwasa called for a referendum on Burundi's constitution, saying that like some of the country’s laws, the constitution has some serious shortcomings which must be addressed. Constitutional amendments would allow the group to gain political status and beat the government position that it cannot be recognised because its name contains the word "hutu". However, according to a government representative in the negotiation, Evariste Ndayishimiye, FNL has not requested for legalization from interior minister. Rwasa returned to Burundi on May 30, 2008 after years of exile ...
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