KIGALI, Oct. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- A visiting Burundian minister on Friday called on the nearly 2,000 refugees in Rwanda to return to their motherland, assuring them domestic situation had been normalized and security guaranteed.

    Burundian Minister for the Repatriation and Integration of Refugees Francoise Ngendahayo on Friday visited the Burundian refugees currently encamping in southern Rwanda.

    Ngendahayo called for the return of 835 Burundian refugees in Gikonko of Butare province and 1,150 in Gikongoro province to return to their motherland after normalization of situation in Burundi.

    "After normalization of the situation, it is imperative that refugees go back and have their share in the development of the country," the minister said.

    She assured the refugees of the security upon their return to Burundi during the critical period of the forthcoming presidentialelection.

    The refugees said they fled to Rwanda early this month due to fear that the post-elections would be marred by killings.

    "We heard that from Nov. 11, 2004, Tutsis would be killed and this would be manifested by sheer confrontations among politicians," said the refugee Muhimana Jean.

    Ngendahayo was in Rwanda for a five-day visit aimed at mobilizing refugees and explaining to them about political and security issues in Burundi. After being addressed by the minister,over 70 refugees registered to return.

    The Burundian elections which were due later October have been postponed to next April as a result of a regional summit with the heads of African states saying the reality did not allow it to take place as planned.

    The draft constitution aimed at act as an interim one to facilitate the process of the elections also aroused conflict between the majority Hutus and minority Tutsis, meeting boycott from the Tutsi parties who complained that too much power had beenput by the constitution into the hands of the Hutus. Enditem