: Systematic rape by soldiers and criminals has become all too common in Burundian life and became even more widespread in 2003. The eastern Ruyigi province was one of the worst affected, with scores of rapes committed by government forces and the Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD, the main Hutu rebel group) in a cycle of reprisal attacks.

Meanwhile, minority party politicians in South Africa have called the government to task for "dubious" air charter contracts. Volga Atlantic Airlines (named as a subcontractor for notorious international arms trader Victor Bout), as well as Marvotech (allegedly subcontracted by Volga Atlantic) and Norse Air Charters had received substantial payments for charter services to Burundi on behalf of the SANDF. - Adam Geibel 

Victor Bout, international arms smuggler, profile online at:
http://gangstersinc.tripod.com/VictorBout.html