Citation
BUJUMBURA, April 6 (Reuter) - The presidents of Burundi and
neighbouring Rwanda were killed on Wednesday night when a rocket downed
their plane as it landed in Rwanda, Western diplomats said.
The diplomats in the Burundian capital of Bujumbura said they were
convinced both Burundi President Cyprien Ntaryamira and Rwandan
President Juvenal Habyarimana were killed in the attack.
We are convinced they were both killed. The plane went down and it
seems there were no survivors. Both presidents were aboard the plane,
one diplomat said.
It is a terrible, terrible catastrophe for both countries at this very
dangerous time,
he said. Anything could happen.
But he added that
Bujumubra was quiet.
Burundian Parliament President Sylvestre Ntibantuganya made a brief
address to the nation on television after the crash, saying he had
learned the plane carrying both presidents had problems and a crisis
committee had been formed to investigate.
He appealed for calm but gave no details on the fate of the presidents.
Under the Burundian constitution, the head of parliament becomes acting
head of state in the event of the president's death.
(c) Reuters Limited 1994
