Kigali — President Paul Kagame said yesterday the jailed former President Pasteur Bizimungu did not ask a presidential pardon in a letter he wrote to him months ago.

The President said Bizimungu only reminded him about his presidential prerogative to pardon, but not a request to for clemency. "In his letter, he didn't in anyway ask for pardon; he was only telling me about what I already know-my prerogative to pardon," Kagame said.

He was responding to a question from a caller during Ijambo n'Iryawe Talk Show on Radio Contact. The President was featuring on the same show for the second time in a year.

In his letter, Bizimungu said he had no intention to "commit any crime, to do bad, or break any laws." He reportedly asked for clemency to enable him go for treatment.

Kagame said he was not under pressure to release his predecessor, adding that the former president's letter had no impact. "It remains the same situation; he could be pardoned as any other person who has not asked for pardon."

Bizimungu was arrested in April 2002 and a lower court's verdict to jail him for fifteen years was upheld by the Supreme Court last February. He was convicted of treason and embezzlement of state funds.

The ex-president's co-accused former Transport minister Charles Ntakirutika was handed a ten-year sentence, while six others were released.

"I am not the causer of his problem, nor is anybody else responsible. He is a victim of himself; he rejected many advises we used to give him long time before his arrest," Kagame said.

Bizimungu's arrest came two years after his dramatic resignation, and days after he had illegally created a political organization, PDR-Ubuyanja (Restoration).

On reports that Bizimungu's health was in poor condition, Kagame said: "Well, he could be sick but the fact that one's health is in poor condition does not give make him or her innocent."

The president dismissed allegations that he sidelines and drags to prisons officials that harbor views that are different from his. "I don't witch-hunt people. However the long hand of the law always holds responsible those who use their powers to abuse office or behave in a manner that is contrary to their duty ethics."

He said all those that fled into exile ran away from repercussions of their crimes. "Tell me any one of them who has a clean track record here," the president asked.

Kagame also described as "baseless rumors" suggestions that he had fell-out with Rwanda's Ambassador to India Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa.

"I don't know of such rifts. He is an Ambassador and he has obligations to fulfill as an Ambassador, he said. Nyamwasa is a former Chief of Staff of Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF).

The president reiterated that incarcerated former Spy Chief Patrick Karegeya (pictured) had failed in his duties "as some one who was occupying a senior position." Karegeya was recently stripped of his pips (Colonel) and sentenced to twenty months for insubordination and desertion from army.

Asked whether he had some disagreements with some of his aides, the president said: "What kind of disagreements? As the President of this country, I myself have some obligations to meet, but again I should be given due respect because I represent all Rwandans.

"If we disagree because you are not doing your job and you become liable, do I take responsibility for that?"

He took swipe at some corrupt officials, but asked Rwandans to appreciate his government's efforts against the misdeed. "You need also to acknowledge what we are doing." Rwanda ranks among the least corrupt nations in the world

And the president urged the media and the general public to help expose corrupt officials. Kagame was speaking with regard to his third anniversary as an elected president.