Colonel Alphonse Nteziryayo, former Commanding Officer of the Military Police and later Prefect of Butare in Rwanda, was transferred this morning to Arusha from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to face charges accusing him of participating in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Nteziryayo, who was arrested in Burkina Faso on 24 April 1998 is jointly charged with Sylvain Nsabimana, whom he replaced as Préfet of Butare on 21 June 1994. Nsabimana who pleaded "not guilty". to five counts during his initial appearance before Trial Chamber 2 on 24 October 1997 is presently detained in Arusha.

The accused are jointly charged with Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, and Serious Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II.

Nteziryayo, who is charged with six counts, is alleged to have ordered and participated in the killing of all surviving Tutsis in the prefecture of Butare. He is also alleged to have supervised militia training, distributed weapons, and publicly incited the population to massacre the Tutsis in Butare prefecture.

The arrival of Nteziryayo brings to 24 the number of accused persons presently detained in the custody of the Tribunal.