afrol News, 10 October - Augustin Ngirabatware, a former Rwandan Minister of Planning, has pleaded not guilty to ten counts of genocide and other crimes at United Nations tribunal set up to deal with 1994 mass killings in small Great Lakes nation.

Former top Rwandan official, is facing charge of genocide and crimes against humanity for murder, extermination and rape. Arrested in Frankfurt, Germany, in last month, he was transferred to International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha, Tanzania, earlier this week.

An estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed – often by machete or club - during a 100-day period starting in early April 1994.

According to Tribunal’s indictment, Mr Ngirabatware, 51, is alleged to have conspired with others to create a plan to exterminate civilian Tutsi population to remain in power.

Prosecution said that parts of defendant’s plan included elements such as recourse to hatred and ethnic violence; training and supplying weapons to militiamen; and preparing lists of people to be eliminated.

Indictment added that Mr Ngirabatware and others organised, ordered and took part in massacres of Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Initially, former Rwandan minister was charged jointly with Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda, former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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