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Rwandan Genocide Suspect Pleads Not Guilty at First Court Appearance

VOA News

   A Rwandan war crimes suspectcharged withhelping toorchestratethe
   country's 1994 genocide and arming militias,was granted notguilty
   pleasduring his first court appearanceatthe HagueWednesday.

   Félicien Kabuga, who arrived at court in a wheelchair, did notrespond
   tothecharges beforethe U.N.'s International Residual Mechanism for
   Criminal Tribunals, but the presiding judge deemed his silenceas not
   guilty pleas.

   The 85-year-oldfaces multiple charges,including complicity in genocide
   and persecution.

   Kabuga is accused of using a radio station he ran to urge ethnic Hutus
   to kill Tutsis.

   He also allegedly funded militias targeting Tutsis across Rwanda.

   Kabugawastransferred to the Netherlands in May following his arrest
   near Parisafter more than two decades on the run.

   Hefaces apossiblesentence oflifein prisonif convicted.

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