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DAR ES SALAAM, March 19 (AFP) - Rwandan government and the rebel Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) Friday started discussing the composition and rules to govern a proposed national army, sources close to the talks said.
The two sides also deliberated on the role, responsibility and modalities of recruitment to facilitate a "well-balanced national army," said Ami Mpungwe, director for African affairs in Tanzania's foreign ministry.
Each side is expected to state its position on issues under discussion during the plenary session so that areas of common agreement can be identified and differences narrowed down.
Both parties are seeking the best way of integrating the minority ethnic Tutsi RPF forces into the Rwandan national army, composed mainly of members of the majority Hutu tribe.
hb/jnm/gd AFP AFP SEQN-0363