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| France denounces genocide claims | France denounces genocide claims |
| (5 days later) | |
| France has rejected Rwandan claims accusing French officials of playing an active role in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 as "unacceptable". | France has rejected Rwandan claims accusing French officials of playing an active role in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 as "unacceptable". |
| 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 said France had been aware of preparations for the 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. |
| Paris has consistently denied any responsibility for the genocide, in which about 800,000 people were killed. | Paris has consistently denied any responsibility for the genocide, in which about 800,000 people were killed. |
| Among those named in the report were the late president Francois Mitterrand and the then prime minister Edouard Balladur. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | "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. |
| Earlier this year, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner denied French responsibility in connection with the genocide, but said political errors had been made. | Earlier this year, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner denied French responsibility in connection with the genocide, but said political errors had been made. |
| Testimonies | Testimonies |
| 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 motive | 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 motive |
| The Rwandan 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 quoted 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 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. |