The statement appeared in English on Interpol's website after the successful arrest Tuesday in Toulouse, France, of Lieutenant-Colonel Marcel Bivugabagabo, a top officer of the former Rwandan army (FAR), wanted by his country for his alleged role in the 1994 genocide.
The arrest followed the transmission by Interpol of the Rwandan arrest warrant. The former officer is under detention and awaiting the chamber of the Court of Appeal of Toulouse to decide on the accused's possible his extradition.
"The close co-operation between Interpol, Rwandan authorities and French Police is another clear message to genocide fugitives that their days are being numbered", Interpol stated.
Lieutenant-Colonel Bivugabagabo was then commander of military operations in the military sector of Ruhengeri, northern Rwanda.
He is accused of genocide, complicity to genocide and criminal conspiracy to commit the crime of genocide, murder, extermination and massacres.
Last October, Interpol officials had met in Kigali with the Rwandan judicial authorities in efforts to locate and apprehend suspects.
Rwanda suspects nine of its citizens are residing in France, out of a list of 93 genocide accused to be in hiding abroad.
The genocide, according to the UN, resulted into nearly 800 000 deaths, mainly ethnic Tutsis.
ER/PB/SC
© Hirondelle News Agency
