Arusha, July 14th ,2004 (FH) – The largest trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) involving six persons from Butare prefecture charged with genocide and crimes against humanity was on Wednesday adjourned to September 6, 2004. The presiding judge, Tanzanian, William Hussein Sekule, told the parties that on resumption the Chamber would hear three factual prosecution witnesses code-named FAG, TQ and FCC and one expert witness.

Judge Sekule further explained that his Chamber would then hear another expert witness, a French Professor Andre Guichaoua whose testimony was incomplete after he had finished examination in chief. He will be cross examined by the defence teams.         The accused in this trial include the former minister for Family and Women Affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko and her son and militia leader Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, two former prefects of Butare; Sylvain Nsabimana and Colonel Alphonse Nteziryayo and two former mayors; Joseph Kanyabashi of Ngoma commune and that of Muganza, Elie Ndayambaje. They have all pleaded not guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Butare in 1994. Trial Chamber Two has heard four witnesses during this session which started June 6, making a total of 56 prosecution witnesses who have already testified since the beginning of the trial on June 12, 2001. Judge Sekule is assisted in this trial by two other Judges, Arlette Ramaroson of Madagascar and Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda.  NI/JA/FH (BT’’07014e)