FRANCE TO TAKE ACQUITTED RWANDAN MAYOR

Arusha, September 20, 2001 (FH) - Informed sources in Paris say France has agreed to take in former Rwandan mayor Ignace Bagilishema, the first person to be acquitted of genocide charges by the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on June 7th this year. Bagilishema is still in ICTR custody, seeking a host country.

The ICTR ordered Bagilishema released but imposed conditions, after the Prosecutor said she would appeal. France is the only country so far where these conditions are known to have been satisfied. Paris earlier said it would not take Bagilishema, but was asked to reconsider its position. ICTR spokesman Kingsley Moghalu told Hirondelle that the Tribunal was waiting for official confirmation of the news. Neither official French sources nor Bagilishema's French lawyer François Roux could be immediately reached for comment. JC/PHD/FH (BS0920E)

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