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Teacher in US accused of genocide | Teacher in US accused of genocide |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A college near the US city of Baltimore has suspended a Rwandan professor over accusations he participated in the African country's genocide. | |
Leopold Munyakazi had been working at Goucher College near Baltimore under a programme for academics whose lives are threatened at home. | Leopold Munyakazi had been working at Goucher College near Baltimore under a programme for academics whose lives are threatened at home. |
He has denied any involvement in Rwanda's genocide. | He has denied any involvement in Rwanda's genocide. |
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. |
Mr Munyakazi, a Hutu, told the Associated Press news agency that he had been persecuted by Rwanda's government. | Mr Munyakazi, a Hutu, told the Associated Press news agency that he had been persecuted by Rwanda's government. |
He said he had been held without trial in Rwanda from 1994 to 1999 on accusations of genocide. | He said he had been held without trial in Rwanda from 1994 to 1999 on accusations of genocide. |
"I'm not hiding; I was never involved in genocide," he said. | "I'm not hiding; I was never involved in genocide," he said. |
Sanford Ungar, president of Goucher College, said in a letter to students and faculty that he became aware of charges against Mr Munyakazi when a journalist and a Rwandan prosecutor came to the college in December. | Sanford Ungar, president of Goucher College, said in a letter to students and faculty that he became aware of charges against Mr Munyakazi when a journalist and a Rwandan prosecutor came to the college in December. |
They told him of witnesses testimonies that Mr Munyakazi, 59, had "participated directly" in the genocide. | They told him of witnesses testimonies that Mr Munyakazi, 59, had "participated directly" in the genocide. |
Charges had been prepared in 2006 after Mr Munyakazi had given a "controversial talk" in the US questioning the Rwandan government's version of the genocide, Mr Ungar said. | Charges had been prepared in 2006 after Mr Munyakazi had given a "controversial talk" in the US questioning the Rwandan government's version of the genocide, Mr Ungar said. |
"Dr Munyakazi vehemently denies any involvement in committing genocide, and in fact has presented evidence that he assisted numerous Tutsis in fleeing Hutu killers," the letter said. | "Dr Munyakazi vehemently denies any involvement in committing genocide, and in fact has presented evidence that he assisted numerous Tutsis in fleeing Hutu killers," the letter said. |
Mr Ungar said the Rwandan, who started teaching French at the college in September, would be suspended from his job pending further investigation. | Mr Ungar said the Rwandan, who started teaching French at the college in September, would be suspended from his job pending further investigation. |
An official at Rwanda's embassy in Washington said Rwanda had asked for Mr Munyakazi and five others to be returned to the country. | An official at Rwanda's embassy in Washington said Rwanda had asked for Mr Munyakazi and five others to be returned to the country. |