Kagame to cooperate with inquiry into crash that sparked genocide

LONDON – Rwandan President Paul Kagame said he would support an impartial investigation of the airplane crash that sparked genocide in the African country nearly 12 years ago, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported Tuesday.

President Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane was mysteriously shot down over the Rwandan capital city of Kigali on April 6, 1994 and triggered the slaughter of more than 500 000 people, mostly members of the Tutsi ethnic minority, and moderates from the Hutu majority. A French probe, led by anti-terrorism judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere, is looking into the case because the crew of Habyarimana’s plane was French.Bruguiere has alleged that Kagame ordered his predecessor’s death so he could seize power, something the Rwandan president has strenuously denied.The French probe has strained already tense relations between France and Rwanda.Late last year, Kigali cut off diplomatic relations with Paris over the investigation.According to a transcript released in advance of the BBC programme ‘Newsnight,’ Kagame was asked if he would support and cooperate with an independent investigation into the crash “by somebody who had nothing to do with the French, nothing to do with you, an independent judge.””I have no problem with that,” Kagame was quoted as replying.”So you would cooperate with it?” the reporter asked.”I have no problem with that,” Kagame was quoted as saying.”I have never had a problem with that.”Nampa-APA French probe, led by anti-terrorism judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere, is looking into the case because the crew of Habyarimana’s plane was French.Bruguiere has alleged that Kagame ordered his predecessor’s death so he could seize power, something the Rwandan president has strenuously denied.The French probe has strained already tense relations between France and Rwanda.Late last year, Kigali cut off diplomatic relations with Paris over the investigation.According to a transcript released in advance of the BBC programme ‘Newsnight,’ Kagame was asked if he would support and cooperate with an independent investigation into the crash “by somebody who had nothing to do with the French, nothing to do with you, an independent judge.””I have no problem with that,” Kagame was quoted as replying.”So you would cooperate with it?” the reporter asked.”I have no problem with that,” Kagame was quoted as saying.”I have never had a problem with that.”Nampa-AP