One of the last suspects in the 1994 Rwandan genocide is due to go on trial at a UN tribunal in The Hague. Félicien Kabuga is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the slaughter of about 800,000 people.
Mr Kabuga is accused of setting up what prosecutors have described as the most powerful weapon in the genocide's execution - a radio station that was used to mobilize one ethnic group, Hutus, to take up arms against another, Tutsis.He is also accused of distributing machetes to militia groups and of financing them.They have argued that he is too frail to stand trial, but judges ruled that it should go ahead but with shorter court sessions.
Mr Kabuga issued a statement, saying the court had refused to let him choose his own lawyer and he had "no confidence" in his current legal representative.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rwanda: Kabuga Trial to Start Amid Defence ConflictThe long-awaited trial of Félicien Kabuga, alleged mastermind of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, is due to start on September 29 in The Hague. However, the accused is appearing with a lawyer he has been rejecting for almost two years. The trial is threatened by the 89-year-old's frail health and the court seems mired in the same problems as its predecessor, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, 25 years ago.
Read more »
Rwandan genocide suspect refuses to attend trial opening - UN judgesJudges at a U.N. court on Thursday said Felicien Kabuga was not attending the opening of his trial on three counts of genocide in Rwanda, but ruled the case would go ahead.
Read more »
Rwandan genocide suspect refuses to attend trial opening - UN judgesJudges at a U.N. court on Thursday said Felicien Kabuga was not attending the opening of his trial on three counts of genocide in Rwanda, but ruled the case would go ahead.
Read more »
Rwanda: Kabuga Trial to Start Amid Defence ConflictThe long-awaited trial of Félicien Kabuga, alleged mastermind of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, is due to start on September 29 in The Hague. However, the accused is appearing with a lawyer he has been rejecting for almost two years. The trial is threatened by the 89-year-old's frail health and the court seems mired in the same problems as its predecessor, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, 25 years ago.
Read more »