Arusha — A 72-year old witness in the genocide case involving the former Rwandan minister of Family and Women Affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko and five others, Wednesday alleged before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that bandits and soldiers who deserted the Rwandan army killed and looted property in Butare prefecture in 1994.

The protected witness, identified only as WMCZ, told the chamber "the country was shaken by the death of President Habyarimana and it was no longer possible to control the population."

Led by Canadian lawyer, Guy Poupart, co-counsel for Nyiramasuhuko, WMCZ further elaborated that the death of President Habyarimana also created fear, especially among the Tutsi minority. They believed immediately that Hutus were planning to do something against them and hence some crossed the border to Burundi.

The second defence witness, who had married two Tutsi wives, disclosed that killings and looting spread in his sector [name withheld for security reasons] in Ndora commune, Butare prefecture (South Rwanda) on April 22 and 23, 1994.

He said one of his wives escaped being killed only after paying the attackers 10,000 Rwandese Francs [about 40 dollars].

The prosecution maintained throughout this trial that the government in which the accused Nyiramasuhuko served between 1992 and 1994 planned and executed genocide by effectively misusing the army, police, Interahamwe militia and Hutu civilians under the guidance of influential government officials including the accused Nyiramasuhuko.

"I went to our local authorities to ask for help several times but I realised they were no longer in control," he said.

He explained that in the end his second wife and two children were killed on July 2, 1994 by the six bandits who attacked his house on the first occasion.

"They brought home the body of my wife and dumped it in a latrine," he said, "I immediately left the area".

During his evidence, he also told the chamber that he witnessed the former Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) soldiers separating women from men during a meeting held at a school complex near his residence and later the men were killed with grenades and traditional weapons. The trial continues on Thursday.

Others on trial with Nyiramasuhuko include her son and alleged militia leader Shalom Arsene Ntahobali, former prefects (Governors) of Butare, Sylvain Nsabimana and Alphonse Nteziryayo, and two former mayors: Joseph Kanyabashi and Elie Ndayambaje of Ngoma and Muganza communes respectively.

They have all pleaded not guilty on all charges including genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and rape. The trial commenced on June 12, 2001.

The case is before Trial Chamber Two presided over by Judge William Hussein Sekule (Tanzania). He is assisted by Judge Arlette Ramaroson (Madagascar) and Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda.