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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rwanda singer jailed for genocide | Rwanda singer jailed for genocide |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| One of Rwanda's most famous singers, Simon Bikindi, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for inciting violence during the 1994 genocide. | One of Rwanda's most famous singers, Simon Bikindi, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for inciting violence during the 1994 genocide. |
| His conviction stems from a speech he made from a vehicle equipped with a public address system encouraging ethnic Hutus to kill Tutsis. | His conviction stems from a speech he made from a vehicle equipped with a public address system encouraging ethnic Hutus to kill Tutsis. |
| Prosecutors at the UN-backed tribunal based in Tanzania had called for the singer to be given a life sentence. | Prosecutors at the UN-backed tribunal based in Tanzania had called for the singer to be given a life sentence. |
| Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered in just 100 days. | Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered in just 100 days. |
| In its judgement, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) said that several of Bikindi's songs, which were widely broadcast in Rwanda at the time, had incited hatred against Tutsis. | In its judgement, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) said that several of Bikindi's songs, which were widely broadcast in Rwanda at the time, had incited hatred against Tutsis. |
| However, the judges said the songs were written before the genocide and there was no evidence to suggest Bikindi had performed or played them in 1994. | However, the judges said the songs were written before the genocide and there was no evidence to suggest Bikindi had performed or played them in 1994. |
| 'Snakes' | 'Snakes' |
| Bikindi was convicted for a speech he made in June 1994 on the main road between Kivumu and Kayove, in north-western Rwanda. | |
| "Simon Bikindi used a public address system to state that the majority population, the Hutu, should rise up to exterminate the minority, the Tutsi," the judgement read. | "Simon Bikindi used a public address system to state that the majority population, the Hutu, should rise up to exterminate the minority, the Tutsi," the judgement read. |
| "On his way back, Bikindi used the same system to ask if people had been killing Tutsi, who he referred to as snakes." | "On his way back, Bikindi used the same system to ask if people had been killing Tutsi, who he referred to as snakes." |
| The BBC's Jamhuri Mwavyombo at the ICTR says his lawyers are considering whether to appeal against the sentence. | The BBC's Jamhuri Mwavyombo at the ICTR says his lawyers are considering whether to appeal against the sentence. |
| Bikindi was also a sports ministry official and founded Rwanda's Irindiro Ballet. | Bikindi was also a sports ministry official and founded Rwanda's Irindiro Ballet. |
| He was arrested seven years ago in the Netherlands. | He was arrested seven years ago in the Netherlands. |
| The most high-profile genocide cases are being tried by ICTR in Arusha. | The most high-profile genocide cases are being tried by ICTR in Arusha. |
| Since 1997, the ICTR has convicted 29 people and acquitted five. | Since 1997, the ICTR has convicted 29 people and acquitted five. |