U.S. praises Rwanda tribunal, urges regional states to track down
fugitives

.c The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States urged governments of East Africa
to fulfill their international obligations toward the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which has just completed its latest
prosecution.

The court, which sits in Arusha, Tanzania, convicted Mika Muhimana on
Thursday of genocide and crimes against humanity including murder and
rape during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. His victims were among more
than 500,000 mostly Tutsi victims of the slaughter.

Muhima, 44, a councilor in the province of Kibuye, was the 25th
defendant convicted by the tribunal. Another 25 still are on trial.

“The United States commends the tribunal on its work, particularly
its increased pace and volume of adjudications,” State Department
spokesman Adam Ereli said Friday. “As the tribunal implements its
completion strategy, the United States continues to support its work
and urges all governments in the region to fulfill their international
obligations.”

Ereli cited resolutions of the U.N. Security Council directing
governments of the area to track down and arrest Felicien Kabuga, a
Hutu businessman accused of financing the killers who marauded as
“the Rwandan Patriotic Army.” The council specified Rwanda, Kenya,
Congo and the Republic of Congo to help the tribunal find Kabuga and
others.

04/29/05 20:32 EDT