CYANGUGU TRIAL RESUMES IN CLOSED SESSION

Arusha, February 10, 2003 (FH) - The genocide trial of three former leaders from the South West Rwanda prefecture of Cyangugu, resumed on Monday with most of the hearing held in camera. The trial had adjourned last Wednesday after the defence ran out of prepared witnesses.

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This trial groups former Transport Minister André Ntagerura, former Cyangugu prefect Emmanuel Bagambiki and former commander of the Karambo military barracks in Cyangugu, Samuel Imanishimwe. Prosecution maintains that all three are guilty of massacres of ethnic Tutsis in Cyangugu during the 1994 genocide. They have pleaded not guilty. Judges of Chamber Three of the ICTR heard the fourth defence witness for Bagambiki named ‘ENV' to protect her identity. Most of her testimony was heard in closed session following a request by the defence. The defence argued that the witness would testify to information that would easily reveal her identity. The trial will continue tomorrow with the testimony of another protected witness, ‘FOE'. Chamber Three is composed of judges Lloyd George Williams of St. Kitts and Nevis (presiding), Yakov Ostrovsky of Russia and Pavel Dolenc of Slovenia. GG/CE/FH(CY'0210e)