Swiss court will not judge suspect for genocide crimes

A Swiss military tribunal has said it is unable to try a former Rwandan mayor on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity, the independent Hirondelle news agency reported on Tuesday. The trial of Fulgence Niyonteze, the former mayor of Mushubati commune in Gitarama prefecture, began in Lausanne on Monday. However the court decided there was no specific provision under Swiss law to judge genocide crimes, although the suspect will be tried for murder, instigation to murder and violating the Geneva conventions. Niyonteze faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The military prosecutor, Major Claude Nicati, expressed deep disappointment over the decision. "I was under the impression that your tribunal was up to the task," he told the court. Rwanda meanwhile called for the extradition of Niyonteze. Justice Minister Jean de Dieu Mucyo told Hirondelle the country had had a file on Niyonteze for a long time, but said he was aware that Switzerland was unlikely to turn him over because of the death penalty in Rwanda. However, he hailed the fact that Switzerland had put Niyonteze on trial and hoped other countries, "notably Belgium", would follow suit.