Bujumbura — Traffic was temporarily slowed on the avenue Nicholas Mayugi after a group of young people stormed the main office of the Uprona party on this Friday 05 October 2007.

These young people refused the leader of Uprona, Mr. Aloys Rubuka, access to this office.

A meeting between the leader of Uprona and a group of members of this party was planned, but did not take place as the police, which had already cleared this office, refused them access to building.

The police ordered that only Aloys Rubuka and his assistant, Antoine Cishahayo, were authorised to access this office.

Troubles within Uprona are escalating whereas talks between the head of state and the opposition parties continue. The position of the First Vice-President of the republic, currently held by Dr Martin Nduwimana, is at stake. Dr Nduwimana is struggling to maintain power after he was ousted from his party by the executive board on 23 August 2007. This dismissal was reaffirmed by the meeting of the central committee on 15 September 2007. Dr Nduwimana is accused by his opponents of using the state's means to disturb the activities of Uprona.

The Head of State announced a week ago that talks with Uprona were proceeding apace. He promised that these talks will continue and that an agreement will be reached.

The problem of representation however persists. The Vice-President of Uprona, Antoine Cishahayo, says that he and Mr Rubuka must represent their party in the talks.

In the meantime, although the interior ministry indicates that Rubuka is the only person that has the authority to represent Uprona, the head of state is planning to meet with both sides