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Rwandan genocide suspect standing trial in Canada
Mar 26, 2007, 18:11 GMT
Montreal - A Montreal court began hearing charges Monday against a Rwandan man charged with war crimes including murder and rape during his alleged participation in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Desire Munyaneza, 40, is charged under Canadian law with two counts of genocide, two counts of crimes against humanity and three counts of war crimes.
The son of a wealthy Hutu businessman, Munyaneza fled to Canada in 1996, but was denied refugee status.
He remained in the Toronto area, however, where he was recognized on the street by a fellow Rwandan who reported him to the police. He was arrested in October 2005.
The case is a landmark in Canada as the first prosecution under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, established in 2000 to domestically try alleged war criminals who have fled to Canada.
Munyaneza entered a plea of not guilty in Monday morning's proceedings. If convicted, the father of two could face life in prison in Canada.
Testimony in the packed courtroom continued Monday afternoon. Romeo Dallaire, the Canadian general who led the UN forces during the genocide and warned an unreceptive international community for months ahead that the tragedy was coming, was expected to testify at some point.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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