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In genocide case, Rwandan denies role in murder of PM, peacekeepers -- 'only passing by'

BRUSSELS -- Former Rwandan army major Bernard Ntuyahaga denied involvement on Monday in the murder of 10 Belgian peacekeepers and the country's prime minister in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, insisting he was an innocent bystander.

"I was at the bad place at the bad moment," he told the court on the second day of his trial.

Ntuyahaga is charged with murdering the Belgians and Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, who they were trying to protect, on the day after the Rwandan president's plane was shot down on in 1994.

Prosecutors say he took them from Uwilingiyimana's residence in a minibus to the Rwandan army camp in Kigali where they were beaten to death, shot or slain with machetes.

The ex-major has said he was passing the residence by chance and gave the Belgians a ride at their request.
Read entire article at Reuters