Rwandan rebel leader to face ICC trial

Rwandan rebel leader to face ICC trial

2010-11-04 00:56:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS, FRANCE (BNO NEWS) -- A French court on Wednesday approved the extradition of an exiled Rwandan rebel leader to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague where he will face trail over war crimes and crimes against humanity charges.

According to RFI, the ICC issued a warrant for Callixte Mbarushimana to stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity including murders, rapes and tortures, that took place in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009.

Mbarushimana, 47, was the commander of the Rwandan FDLR rebel force. He moved to France as a political refugee in 2002 and has worked since as a computer technician. He was arrested last month by French authorities after the ICC issued the fore mentioned warrant.

The former Rwandan rebel leader denied charges but a French court approved the extradition to the ICC with the condition that under no circumstances he would be taken back to Rwanda.

Mbarushimana's lawyers complained that the extradition would be the first step to send him to Rwanda where the attorneys consider he will not get a fair trial due to his past.

Mbarushimana,a former United Nations employee, is accused of directing and participating in the murder of 32 people, including UN employees, in 1994 during the Rwandan Genocide.

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