U.N. Denies Transfer of Rwandan Genocide Suspect

After 800,000 were slaughtered in the Rwandan genocide, the United Nations set up a war crimes tribunal based out of Arusha, Tanzania, to try the perpetrators. Since its formation in late 1994, 35 suspects have been brought before the tribunal with five acquittals.

Last week, the U.N. denied a request by Rwandan prosecutors to have the case of Yussuf Munyakazi transferred there for trial. The tribunal based their decision on a possible sentence of life imprisoned in isolation, which it deemed as being outside human rights standards, and on concerns about how fair a trial Munyakazi would receive in Rwanda. Munyakazi, a businessman who allegedly led an Interahamwe militia, was indicted in 1997 for genocide and crimes against humanity. Among the accusations against him is that he plotted the slaughter of Tutsi civilians who tried to take refuge in churches. He was captured in 2004 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This week, the tribunal's chief prosecutor is briefing the Security Council on the progress of the court, which is set to close in six months (appeals can last until 2010). Take a look at some of the suspects still sought by Interpol in connection with the Rwandan genocide.