Hirondelle News Agency (Lausanne)
27 March 2006
Tanzania is likely to take over the responsibility of prosecuting Rwandan genocide suspects whose trials under the current International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) will not be completed by the year 2008.
"The Tribunal's leadership has asked the Tanzanian government to complete prosecuting genocide suspects after its mandate", said Dr. Mary Nagu, Tanzanian minister of Justice in a telephone interview with Hirondelle News Agency on Friday.
The minister's remarks followed a meeting she held with the top officials of the Tribunal including its President Judge Erik Mose (Norway), the Chief Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow (Gambia) and the Registrar Adama Dieng (Senegal).
The United Nations Security Council had directed the Tribunal to complete trials in the coming two years and appeal cases by 2010.
Dr. Nagu said her ministry would look into the matter, after receiving a formal request, because extensive preparations were necessary before accommodating this international obligation.
She said preparations may include resources like manpower, financial support from the international community and an examination of whether Tanzanian law allow the prosecution of someone who has committed a crime in another country.
The ICTR Spokesperson, Tim Gallimore, on Friday had no information about the outcome of the meeting between the Tanzanian minister and top tribunal officials.
The three leaders of ICTR last week held also a meeting with the Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete in Arusha.
The Tribunal has so far completed cases involving 26 accused, while cases involving 27 others are ongoing and 15 accused are awaiting trial.
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