Arusha, October 5th , 2004 (FH) - A prosecution witness in the trial of four former Rwandan army officers on genocide charges before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda(ICTR) was on Tuesday challenged regarding his testimony.

The witness code-named ALN was being cross-examined by the lead defense counsel for the former commander of the Reconnaissance battalion, Major François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye.

The counsel, Andre Ferran of France asked the witness questions regarding what the major did after learning about the death of President Juvénal Habyarimana on the evening of April 6, 1994.

In response, the witness responded that, “the major gave orders to his subordinate, Captain Innocent Sagahutu, to ensure protection in the national radio station, at the bank and at the presidency”.

The witness was then challenged how he knew that the orders given to Sagahutu on that day and on the morning of April 7, 1994 were obeyed. In response the witness claimed, “everyone knew what was going on, even those who were not at the site knew”.

The witness alleged earlier that Major Nzuwonemeye gave orders on the morning of April 7, 1994 to Captain Sagahutu to send two armored vehicles to the Prime Minister’s residence.

Counsel Ferran asked the witness whether he saw the armored vehicles going to Prime Minister, Agathe Uwingiliyimana’s residence after the orders were given to ensure that Agathe was eventually killed.

In response the witness claimed, “I saw the armored vehicles leave”. However, ALN did not say he witnessed the vehicles arrive at Madame Agathe’s residence. He continued to say that he later heard that Madame Agathe had been killed.

Defense counsel Ferran further queried how high ranking officers were talking loudly things that could be considered harmful to other persons. He asked, “How could important information from senior military officials have been given loudly?”. In response the witness stated that, “I was always close to him (major Nzuwonemeye) and I heard everything”. ALN said he was the major’s driver at the time.

ALN also claimed, “After the 6th of April, everything changed and orders were being given very loudly and everybody could hear”. He said, “Someone could receive a mission order in the open inside or outside the office”.

Nzuwonemeye is co-accused with his deputy, Captain Innocent Sagahutu along with the former chief of staff of the Gendarmerie (Para-military police), General Augustin Ndindiliyimana and the former army chief-of-staff of the Rwandan army General Augustin Bizimungu.

The military officials are accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and have pleaded not guilty.

The trial continues with the cross-examination of ALN. The Military II trial started on September 20, 2004 and is hearing the 3rd prosecution witness.

This trial is before Trial Chamber Two of the ICTR composed of Judge Joseph Asoka de Silva of Sri Lanka (Presiding), assisted by Judges Taghrid Hikmet of Jordan and Seon Ki Park of South Korea.

SV/GF/FH (MLII''1005e)