BUJUMBURA, July 9 (Reuters) - Burundi's government accused the country's last rebel group of plotting fresh violence on Wednesday after they said they were halting demobilisation.

The ethnic Hutu Forces for National Liberation (FNL) said they would stop assembling fighters at agreed locations unless the FNL is accepted as a political party.

"What we see on the ground is that the FNL continues to recruit new fighters and train them," government spokeswoman Hafsa Mossi told reporters. "That is an indication the rebel group is preparing itself for the resumption of hostilities."

A rebel spokesman denied the allegation.

"We're not preparing another war. We are just asking to be recognised as a political party and then continue with the rest of the process," said FNL spokesman Pasteur Habimana.

"This is a legitimate claim."

The government and FNL signed a peace deal in 2006 which stalled later following renewed clashes.

A final peace agreement between the government and the FNL is seen as crucial step to lasting stability in the coffee-growing nation of 8 million, which is emerging from more than a decade of ethnic conflict that killed 300,000 people. (Reporting by Patrick Nduwimana; Editing by Daniel Wallis) (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/)

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