Rwanda "shocked" as French free genocide suspects

[Ian David]

Thu Aug 2, 2007 10:08AM EDT
Black Collar Crime

By Arthur Asiimwe

KIGALI (Reuters) - Rwanda is shocked by a French appeals court ruling that freed two Rwandans indicted by Kigali and an international court over the country's 1994 genocide, and its foreign minister called the decision absurd on Thursday.

"We are shocked and surprised by the decision ... Going ahead to release such suspects accused of the biggest crimes like genocide is absurd," Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande told Reuters.

Rwanda had sought the extradition of Roman Catholic priest Wenceslas Munyeshyaka and another man, Laurent Bucyibaruta. But the court ruled on Wednesday the indictments violated the presumption of innocence.

"They claim the warrants had defects in writing, but we believe they should have held them while the mistakes in the warrants were sorted out," Murigande said in Kigali.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0288899120070802