afrol News, 17 December - The UN Security Council has extended the Rwanda genocide tribunal mandate to 2012. The tribunal was set up to deal with the worst atrocities committed during the Rwandan genocide of 1994.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is given until the end of 2012 to conclude all appeals procedures and trial judges are expected to finish their work by 30 June 2010.

The Eleven accused of genocide are still at large out of the 81 people indicted for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in Rwanda in 1994, when an estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed by Hutu militants, mainly by machetes during a period of less than 100 days.

The ICTR, based in Arusha, Tanzania, holds two recently arrested indictees who are awaiting trial, and has 26 prosecutions in progress with 49 cases completed, including nine that are pending appeal and eight acquittals.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was established for the prosecution of persons responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of Rwanda between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994.

It may also deal with the prosecution of Rwandan citizens responsible for genocide and other such violations of international law committed in the territory of neighbouring states during the same period.

By staff writer

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