Rwanda suspect pleads not guilty

Idelphonse Nizeyimana stands trial over mass killings during 1994 genocide.

Rwanda - genocide - anniversary
About 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus werekilled in the 1994 genocide [EPA]

He had been on the run for 15 years with a $5m bounty on his head when he was captured in Uganda earlier this month.

Search for justice

The tribunal, which is due to finish its work by the end of next year, says it is still trying to find 11 fugitives. 

In depth

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undefined The Rwandan genocide and its legacy
undefined Revisiting Rwanda’s dark days

undefined  Video: Rwanda pastor on trial

So far 40 people have been convicted of crimes connected with the genocide.

The court, set up in 1997 to try the masterminds of the massacres, had until last year to complete all trials, and has until 2010 to hear all appeals.

Martin Ngoga, Rwanda’s prosecutor general, told Al Jazeera: “The ICTR has done a commendable job in bringing to justice those most responsible for the genocide; those who were in positions of leadership and most importantly, those who were beyond the reach of our national jurisdiction.

“Unfortunately we haven’t succeeded to have a single case transferred to Rwanda,” he said.

On April 6, 1994, Juvenal Habyarimana, Rwanda’s president, and Cyprien Ntaryamira, the president of neighbouring Burundi, were killed when their plane was shot down as it flew to Kigali, the Rwandan capital.

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Habyarimana’s death signalled the beginning of a 100-day massacre, perpetrated mainly by Hutus against Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Between April and June 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies

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