EX-MAYOR LED KILLING OF 321 TUTSIS, SAYS WITNESS

Arusha, November 28, 2001 (FH) - Former Rwandan mayor Juvénal Kajelijeli led an attack during the 1994 genocide in which 321 Tutsis were killed, a witness told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Wednesday. "On the spot, there was no survivor," protected witness "GAP" told the court.

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"We counted 321 people killed. " He told the court that the attack took place on April 8th, 1994. GAP, named as such to shield his identity, told the court that he had been a worker at Mukingo commune offices (Ruhengeri prefecture, northwest Rwanda) during the 1994 genocide. He said that he had gone to the scene of the killings following a request to the commune from Kajelijeli to have the victims buried. "Mayor Hererimana (then mayor of Mukingo commune) told me to take some police to go and see what had happened," GAP said. Kajelijeli was mayor of Mukingo commune from 1988 to 1993 and was reappointed in the same post in June 1994, after Harerimana's death. "After the visit to the scene," testified GAP, "Harerimana refused to bury them before reporting the matter. " "Kajelijeli then proposed to buy him (Harerimana) a drink. They went to a bar and took two beers," said GAP. "When they finished having the drink, we returned to the office and Harerimana died," added GAP. GAP's testimony stopped at this point as the chamber adjourned for the day. Some previous witnesses in this case have alleged that Kajelijeli poisoned Harerimana. GAP is the tenth prosecution witness in this trial. Witness 'GOA' could be recalled a third timeMeanwhile, defence counsel for Kajelijeli, Lennox Hinds of the US, told the court that he was planning to recall prosecution witness GOA. GOA testified in this case for the first time in July but was recalled on Monday at the defence's request to answer questions regarding his confession statement to Rwandan judicial authorities. The defence says that GOA's confession contradicts his testimony before the ICTR. GOA finished testifying on Wednesday. GOA has denied knowledge of some documents produced by defence as being his confession statement to Rwandan authorities. Defence says it intends to recall GOA for authentification of the documents. Hinds said defence wouldtake GOA's fingerprints and match them with those on the documents. The case is before judges William Hussein Sekule of Tanzania (presiding), Winston Churchill Matanzima Maqutu of Lesotho and Arlette Ramaroson of Madagascar. GG/JC/DO/FH (KJ1126f)