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Rwandan MP convicted of genocide Rwandan MP convicted of genocide
(30 minutes later)
A Rwandan MP and member of the Tutsi-led governing party has been found guilty of genocide and sentenced to life imprisonment. A female Rwandan MP and member of the Tutsi-led governing party has been found guilty of genocide and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Nirere Beatrice was convicted by a Gacaca traditional community court set up to deal with 1994 genocide cases. Beatrice Nirere was convicted by a Gacaca traditional community court set up to deal with 1994 genocide cases.
The Rwandan Patriotic Front member had denied helping set up road blocks where ethnic Tutsis were killed and chairing meetings to plan the massacre.The Rwandan Patriotic Front member had denied helping set up road blocks where ethnic Tutsis were killed and chairing meetings to plan the massacre.
Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in the 100-day slaughter.Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in the 100-day slaughter.
Beatrice, who was re-elected in September last year, did admit a charge of handing out uniforms to the Hutu Interahamwe militiamen who led the killings. Nirere, who was re-elected in September last year, did admit a charge of handing out uniforms to the Hutu Interahamwe militiamen who led the killings.
The Gacaca courts were established to speed up the trials of the many thousands of people accused of taking part in the genocide. The former rebel RPF came to power when its fighters marched into Kigali in June 1994 and ended the genocide.
Gacaca means "justice on the grass" and the village courts were set up four years ago to clear the huge backlog of genocide suspects awaiting trial in Rwanda's jails.
Concerns have been raised in the past that Gacaca witnesses might not tell the truth for fear of reprisals.
A number of genocide survivors have been killed, possibly to stop them giving evidence to the courts.
A UN court has been set up in the Tanzanian town of Arusha to deal with the ringleaders.A UN court has been set up in the Tanzanian town of Arusha to deal with the ringleaders.