12.05.10 - ICTR/KAREMERA - NZIRORERA DAUGHTERS BACK FATHER'S DEFENCE OF ALIBI

12 May 2010 By

Arusha, May 12, 2010 (FH) - Two daughters of genocide-accused Joseph Nzirorera Wednesday backed their father's defence of alibi, claiming that the day Rwanda's President Juvenal Habyarimana was killed on April 6, 1994 the suspect was at his home at Remera, Kigali, and not at Mukingo Commune as alleged by the prosecution.

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The daughters-Aurore Uwase (30) and Flora Kalisa (32) -- told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that they only left the following day on April 7, 1994 together with their father to Kiyovu area, also in Kigali city.

They had sought refuge at the residence of genocide-convict Lt. Col. Ephrem Setako, claimed the two Nzirorera's daughters who are living in exile in Europe.

Within such period, the prosecution claims, however, that Nzirorera, the former Secretary General of MRND, then Rwandan ruling party, was at Mukingo in Ruhengeri prefecture, northern Rwanda, where he was organizing massacres against Tutsis.

"We remained at the house of Setako until April 11, 1994," Flora told the Tribunal.

Nzirorera is jointly tried with his co-top MRND President Mathieu Ngirumpatse and his Vice-President Edouard Karemera with crimes committed by members of their party. Karemera has already completed his defence case.

The trial has been adjourned to Monday because of lack of witnesses.

FK/SC/GF