Arusha — The former mayor of Gikoro commune, Kigali Rural prefecture, Paul Bisengimana, on Thursday entered a plea of guilty to two counts of crimes against humanity - murder and extermination and denied other charges of genocide, complicity to commit genocide and rape.

Bisengimana, 57, was arrested in Mali on December 4, 2001 and was transferred to the Tribunal's detention facility in Arusha, three months later. The accused made his initial appearance on March 18, 2002 and pleaded not guilty to twelve charges.

The accused recently concluded a plea agreement with the Prosecutor before he decided to change his stand. In return for the guilty plea, the prosecution will withdraw the other charges against him.

Bisengimana is the fifth defendant to plead not guilty at the tribunal. The others were Italian-Belgian journalist Georges Ruggiu, the former militia chief Omar Serushago and the former municipal councilor Vincent Rutaganira, who all received relatively low sentences. The other was former Prime Minister Jean Kambanda who was sentenced to life in prison.