THREE RWANDAN EX-MINISTERS TRANSFERRED TO UN PRISON IN ARUSHA

The ICTR said they finally arrived in Arusha on Saturday. All three were members of the interim government that presided over the 1994 genocide. They are former Minister of Foreign Affairs Jérôme Bicamumpaka, former Minister of Commerce and Industry Justin Mugenzi and former Minister for the Civil Service Prosper Mugiraneza. The former ministers are jointly charged with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity. Also charged with them is former Health Minister Casimir Bizimungu, who has been in the ICTR prison in Arusha since February. Bizimungu was arrested in Kenya. The new arrivals were arrested on April 6th in Yaounde. Making the announcement, ICTR Chief Prosecutor Louise Arbour thanked the Cameroonian authorities for what she called their " excellent cooperation [. . . ] in the execution of the arrests ". Thirty-eight people are now in ICTR detention, including these three. The figure also includes one person who is in custody in Texas, awaiting the result of an appeal against his extradition. JC/FH (PO§0802e)