MEDIA TRIAL SET TO START OCTOBER 23rd

The media trial groups three suspects linked to hate media in Rwanda, which incited Hutus to kill Tutsis during the 1994 genocide. The suspects are Hassan Ngeze, who was editor of the newspaper Kangura; Ferdinand Nahimana, ex-director of the radio station Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM); and Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, a former politician and founder member of RTLM. Their trial had been due to start on September 18th but was adjourned so that the court could first hear a number of defence motions. On Tuesday, judges of Trial Chamber One rejected seven pre-trial defence motions. On the other hand, the court granted the only request from the prosecution, ordering the transfer of three prisoners from Rwanda so that they can appear as witnesses. The witnesses will be temporarily detained in the United Nations Detention Facility in Arusha, where the defendants are also held. Ngeze, Nahimana and Barayagwiza are charged with genocide and crimes against humanity. AT/JC/FH (ME%0927e)