Thursday afternoon, four accused - Théoneste Bagosora, Ferdinand Nahimana, André Ntagerura and Anatole Nsengiyumva - were brought to Arusha from Cameroon, where they have been held since their arrest. They were immediately transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal's Detention Center in Arusha.

The transfer took place under heavy surveillance. Registrar Andronico O. Adede and Deputy Prosecutor Honoré Rakotomanana travelled to Cameroon on Wednesday, January 22, in order to ensure a smooth transfer .

At exactly 6:45 pm, the airplane carrying the detainees landed at the Arusha Airport.

Initial appearances, pursuant to the Rules of the Tribunal, will be held before the ICTR in the coming days. During the initial appearances, trial dates will be set with agreement by all parties involved.

Upon their arrest, each accused was assigned counsel by the Registrar of the Tribunal. Colonel Théoneste Bagosora, former Director of the Minister of Defense's Cabinet, will be defended by Mr. B. Ondingui of Cameroon; Ferdinand Nahimana, former RTLM Director, will be defended by Mr. Jean-Marie Biju-Duval of Paris and André Ntagerura, former Minister of Transport and Communication, will be defended by Mr. F. N'Fakhy Konaté of Côte d'Ivoire. As for Lieutenant-Colonel, Anatole Nsengiyumva, he will be defended by Mr. Kennedy Ogetto of Kenya.

The transfer was made possible with the help of President Paul Biya, with the cooperation of the Cameroonian Government and judicial authorities, as well as the Governments of Tanzania, Belgium, Rwanda, and with the assistance of the US Ambassador to Cameroon, who contributed the necessary support to the Tribunal authorities.

The success of this operation proves, if proof be needed, that African governments and the entire international community are supporting and cooperating with the Tribunal.

The arrival of these new detainees brings the ICTR Detention Center total to 11 prisoners.

A press conference will be held Saturday, January 25, 1997 at 11:00 am at the ICTR.