BUTARE TRIAL ADJOURNS AS PROSECUTION WITNESS FALLS SICK

Arusha, April 20, 2004 (FH)- The trial of six people accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in the so-called Butare trial Tuesday at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was adjourned for one day as the prosecution witness scheduled to testify was reported to have fallen sick. The Presiding Judge, William Hussein Sekule from Tanzania took the decision to adjourn the hearing to Wednesday, hoping that the witness will have recovered by then.

Earlier, the chamber concluded the cross examination of witness QBY which was mostly held behind closed doors. The witness, a self-confessed killer testified mainly against the former prefect of Butare, Colonel Alphonse Nteziryayo, one of six co-accused in this trial. The others are the former minister for Family and Women Affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko; her son and militia leader, Arsene Shalom Ntahobali ; another former prefect of Butare, Sylvain Nsabimana; and two former mayors: Elie Ndayambaje, of Muganza commune and Joseph Kanyabashi of Ngoma. All have pleaded not guilty to genocide and crimes against humanity. Judge William Hussein Sekule is assisted in Chamber Two by Judge Arlette Ramaroson from Madagascar and Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda. NI/KN/JA/GF/FH (BT''0420e)

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