BUJUMBURA, Dec 3 (AFP) - Burundi's President Pierre Buyoya began a European tour Monday aimed at drumming up support ahead of a donor's meeting in Geneva later in the week.
Buyoya, who left Bujumbura on Sunday, was to head to Belgium for talks with the European Union, and then to Switzerland and France.
"The main point of the trip is to take part in the donor's round table in Geneva on December 6 and 7," Major Buyoya said at Bujumbura airport.
"I am sure many of them will help us even though violence is continuing" in Burundi, the president said, a month after a transitional government of national unity was sworn in.
Hutu rebels have stepped up their fight against the Tutsi-dominated army since the November 1 installation of the new government, wherein power is meant to be shared equitably between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority.
Burundi's civil war has claimed 250,000 lives since 1993.
When donors met in Paris a year ago they promised more than 400 million dollars, about 20 percent of which has since been released.
The Geneva meeting will "again examine issues of aid and of AIDS," Buyoya said.
Eight years of war have placed Burundi among the world's five poorest countries. With 17 percent of its population HIV positive, it is also one of the three countries in the world most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Before going to Switzerland, Buyoya said he would "visit Belgium and the European Union, mainly to mobilise them to come to Geneva, but also to make major undertakings to help Burundi."
He added that he would visit Paris after the Geneva meeting.
Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said in Bujumbura a week ago that the EU would in Geneva confirm a 170 million euro (152 million dollar) programme for Burundi.
On November 16, the European Commission resumed non-humanitarian aid that was suspended in 1997 by signing a 65 million euro plan to cover a three year programme of physical and political rehabilitation.
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