PROCEEDINGS INTERRUPTED BY LACK OF WITNESSES

Arusha, March 10, 2004 (FH) –The proceedings in the so-called Government II trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) were on Wednesday interrupted due to lack of prosecution witnesses. The prosecutor, Ibukunolu Babajide, (Nigeria) informed the trial chamber that witnesses from Rwanda were unable to travel to Arusha on Monday because the International Women's Day is a public holiday in Rwanda.

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Babajide said the next three witnesses arrived in Arusha late on Tuesday evening and he was unable to meet them. He then requested for an adjournment up to Thursday morning, which the court granted. Earlier in the morning session, the twenty-second prosecution witness, code-named GTA, was cross-examined briefly by one defence counsel before the adjournment. On Tuesday, GTA told the trial chamber that he had witnessed a Tutsi man being killed at a roadblock in Gitarama Prefecture on orders of former minister of Foreign Affairs, Jerome Bicamumpaka, in 1994. Bicamumpaka is co-accused with former minister for Health Casimir Bizimungu, former minister for Commerce Justin Mugenzi and former minister of Public Service Prosper Mugiraneza. They each face six counts of genocide and crimes against humanity. Government II Trial is before Trial Chamber Two where Judge Asoka de Zoyza Gunawardana (Sri Lanka) is presiding assisted by judges Lee Muthoga (Kenya) and Khalida Rashid Khan (Pakistan)PJ/CE/FH (GVII''0309e)