afrol News, 22 February - A former minister of Rwanda's interim government in 1994 has denied all the 11 genocide-related charges brought against him at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania.

Callixte Nzabonimana, 55, who served as the minister of youth and sport, arrested on Monday arrested in Kigoma, Tanzania before being handed over to the genocide tribunal the same day.

The former member of the Mouvement Républicain National pour le Développement et la Démocratie was charged alongside six other suspects: Augustin Bizimana, Edouard Karemera, Andre Rwamakuba, Mathieu Ngirumpatse, Joseph Nzirorera and Felicien Kabuga.

Nzabonimana appeared before Judge Dennis of the Arusha-based tribunal to make his plea.

His charges include committing genocide, directed and incited genocidial activities as well as violated the Geneva Conventions during Rwanda's 100-day 1994 genocide, which saw the mass slaughter of Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Nzabonimana is accused of conspiring with others to plan the extermination of the Tutsi population. He is also alleged to have been involved in the elimination of Rwandan opposition members.

An estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were reported to have been slaughtered in the Rwandan genocide.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories