The trial of three suspects accused of carrying out genocide in the southwestern Rwandan region of Cyangugu resumed here Thursday despite a threat to boycott proceedings, the independent news agency Hirondelle reported.
Former prefect of Cyangugu Emmanuel Bagambiki, ex-transport minister Andre Ntagerura and former Cyangugu military leader Samuel Imanishimwe were all present in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) as the defense continued cross-questioning a prosecution witness.
In a letter dated October 24 but released on Wednesday, 22 Rwandan genocide suspects held by the ICTR had said they would observe a two-day "strike" in solidarity with Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, a former politician and founder of 'hate radio' Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM).
Barayagwiza says he is boycotting his trial, which started Monday, because it will not be fair. He claims that the current government in Kigali manipulates the tribunal.
RTML was instrumental in inciting people to carry out the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, during which between 500,000 and 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed -- ARUSHA (AFP)
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