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France denounces genocide claims France denounces genocide claims
(about 4 hours later)
France's foreign ministry has denounced Rwandan claims of complicity in the country's 1994 genocide. France has rejected Rwandan claims accusing French officials of playing an active role in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 as "unacceptable".
A Rwandan report carried "unacceptable accusations against political and military officials", a spokesman said. On Tuesday, an independent Rwandan commission said France had been aware of preparations for the genocide and helped train the ethnic Hutu militia.
On Tuesday an independent Rwandan commission implicated 33 French officials for their failure to prevent the killings.
The report said France was aware of preparations for genocide and helped train the ethnic Hutu militia.
The report also accused French troops of direct involvement in the killings.The report also accused French troops of direct involvement in the killings.
Former French Foreign Minister Alan Juppe told Agence France-Presse news agency the accusations were an "unacceptable" attempt to rewrite history. Paris has consistently denied any responsibility for the genocide, in which about 800,000 people were killed.
Writing on his blog earlier this year, he wrote of "an insidious attempt to rewrite history. It aims to turn France from an involved party to an accomplice to the genocide. It is an unacceptable falsification". Among those named in the report were the late president Francois Mitterrand and the then prime minister Edouard Balladur.
Two men who went on to become prime minister were also named - Alain Juppe, the foreign minister at the time, and his then chief aide, Dominique de Villepin.
"This report contains unacceptable accusations made against French political and military officials," a French foreign ministry spokesman said.
But Rwandan Information Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said she hoped the French officials named would be indicted for war crimes.
"The government has asked the courts to use this report. We hope that legal proceedings will follow," she is quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
Some 800,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered by Hutu militias in just 100 days in 1994.Some 800,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered by Hutu militias in just 100 days in 1994.
Among those named in the report were late former President Francois Mitterrand and then Prime Minister Edouard Balladur. Earlier this year, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner denied French responsibility in connection with the genocide, but said political errors had been made.
Mr Juppe and his chief aide at the time, Dominique de Villepin, were also named. Both men went on to become prime minister of France.
TestimoniesTestimonies
Earlier this year France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner denied French responsibility in connection with the genocide, but said political errors had been made.
The Rwandan government has urged the relevant authorities to bring the accused French politicians and military officials to justice Rwandan justice ministry Report raises issue of motiveThe Rwandan government has urged the relevant authorities to bring the accused French politicians and military officials to justice Rwandan justice ministry Report raises issue of motive
The report says France backed Rwanda's Hutu government with political, military, diplomatic and logistical support. The Rwandan report says France backed Rwanda's Hutu government with political, military, diplomatic and logistical support.
"French forces directly assassinated Tutsis and Hutus accused of hiding Tutsis... French forces committed several rapes on Tutsi survivors," said a statement from the justice ministry cited by AFP. "French forces directly assassinated Tutsis and Hutus accused of hiding Tutsis... French forces committed several rapes on Tutsi survivors," said a statement from the justice ministry quoted by AFP.
"Considering the seriousness of the alleged crimes, the Rwandan government has urged the relevant authorities to bring the accused French politicians and military officials to justice," the statement said."Considering the seriousness of the alleged crimes, the Rwandan government has urged the relevant authorities to bring the accused French politicians and military officials to justice," the statement said.
It further alleged that French forces did nothing to challenge checkpoints used by Hutu forces in the genocide.It further alleged that French forces did nothing to challenge checkpoints used by Hutu forces in the genocide.
The BBC's Geoffrey Mutagoma in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, says the commission spent nearly two years investigating France's alleged role.
It heard testimonies from genocide survivors, researchers, writers and reporters.
The 500-page document was presented to the Rwanda's government last November, but was not made public until now.
The two countries have had a frosty relationship since 2006 when a French judge implicated Rwandan President Paul Kagame in the downing in 1994 of then-President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane - an event widely seen as triggering the killings.The two countries have had a frosty relationship since 2006 when a French judge implicated Rwandan President Paul Kagame in the downing in 1994 of then-President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane - an event widely seen as triggering the killings.
President Kagame has always denied the charge.President Kagame has always denied the charge.
He says Mr Habyarimana, a Hutu, was killed by Hutu extremists who then blamed the incident on Tutsi rebels to provide the pretext for the genocide.He says Mr Habyarimana, a Hutu, was killed by Hutu extremists who then blamed the incident on Tutsi rebels to provide the pretext for the genocide.
Are you in Rwanda or France? What's your reaction to the story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you in Rwanda or France? What's your reaction to the story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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