Rwanda opens genocide trial

January 14, 1997
Web posted at: 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT)

KIGALI, Rwanda (CNN) -- The trial of a prominent Rwanda politician accused of being a ringleader in the 1994 genocide of minority Tutsis began Tuesday.

Froduald Karamira was a vice president of the extremist MDR- Power party under the Hutu-led government. He was an ethnic Tutsi but, under a Rwandan custom, converted to become a member of the Hutu tribe.

The presiding judge in the trial granted a request by Karamira's attorney to postpone court until January 29. The attorney said he'd never met Karamira before Tuesday and needed the time to prepare his case.

Karamira is the most senior suspect held in Rwanda on charges of taking part in the mass slaughter of 800,000 people.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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