A Court of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has confirmed indictments of Georges Ruggiu, a former journalist and broadcaster with Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), and Lt. Samuel Imanishimwe, a former Commander of the Rwandese army in Cyangugu prefecture.

Judge Lennart Aspegren confirmed the indictments and ordered that warrants of arrest be issued against Ruggiu who is facing 2 counts, and Manishimwe who is facing 8 counts. The two who were arrested in Kenya in July and August 1997 respectively, are currently detained in Arusha.

Ruggiu, in his indictment is charged with Direct and Public Incitement to Commit Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity. He is alleged to have made broadcasts over RTLM which incited to kill and/or cause bodily and/or mental harm to Tutsis. It is also alleged that his broadcasts persecuted the Tutsis, certain Hutus and Belgians.

Ruggiu, said to be of both Belgian and Italian nationality was born on 12 October 1957 in Verviers, Belgium.

Imanishimwe is charged with Genocide, Complicity in Genocide, Conspiracy to Commit Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, and Serious Violations of Article III Commoon to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II thereof, relating to non-international armed conflicts.

He is alleged to have been involved in the in killings of Tutsis in Cyangugu prefecture where he was Commander of the Rwanda Armed Forces.

Imanishimwe was born in Nyamibata, Masisi region in the present Congo Democratic Republic, while his parents originated from Nkuli Commune, in Ruhengeri prefecture in Rwanda.

Meanwhile, hearing of the case of George Rutaganda was today adjourned to 24 November 1997 to enable the Defence to prepare its cross examination of an expert Prosecution witness, Professor Filip Reyntjens. The professor, from the University of Antwerp in Belgium, who is an expert in Law and Politics of the Great Lakes Region, is the 15th prosecution witness.