WITNESS FAILS TO IDENTIFY SUSPECT AND POINTS AT ANOTHER

Arusha, January 31st, 2001 (FH) - A prosecution witness on Wednesday failed to identify a suspect on trial for crimes committed in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide while testifying before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Former Transport minister Andre Ntagerura, former Cyangugu prefect Emmanuel Bagambiki, and Samuel Imanishimwe, who was commander of the army barracks in the prefecture, are being tried jointly for genocide and crimes against humanity.

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All three have pleaded not guilty. The 19th prosecution witness, dubbed "LH" to protect his identity, told the court that former prefect Emmanuel Bagambiki selected Tutsis whose names were listed before they were sought and massacred. LH said that the former prefect went to the Kamarampaka stadium in Cyangugu where he and other Tutsis had taken refuge. There he had some arrested, the witness said, and ordered their killing. The witness told the court "Bagambiki came to the stadium with soldiers and a list of names from which he called some people by name. Those who left were never seen again". According to the witness, more Tutsis arrested on the orders of the prefect were taken to Gatandara (in Cyangugu) and killed. He added that he escaped arrests twice and at one point hid close to some newly dug pit latrines. The witness added that while still at the stadium, Bagambiki informed the remaining refugees that buses would collect them and take them to Nyarushishi (refugee camp). However, when asked to identify the former prefect, the witness instead pointed out André Ntagerura. The defence did not cross-examine the witness. This case is before Trial Chamber Three of the ICTR, composed of Judges Lloyd Williams of Jamaica (presiding), Yakov Ostrovsky of Russia and Pavel Dolenc of Slovenia. SW/JC/DO/FH (CY_0131e)