ICTR orders release of genocide suspect

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has ordered the immediate unconditional release of defendant Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, according to an ICTR press release. Barayagwiza - formerly director of political affairs in the foreign ministry and a founding member of extremist RTLM radio - had appealed against the “violation of his fundamental rights by prolonging his detention without trial, mainly as a result of actions by the prosecutor”. The Chamber upheld his appeal and ordered that the necessary arrangements be made to return him to Cameroon, where he was arrested in 1997. At his initial appearance in February 1998, Barayagwiza had pleaded not guilty to six counts of genocide and crimes against humanity. An ICTR spokesman told IRIN on Friday the Chamber had ordered that all the charges against Barayagwiza be dismissed “with prejudice to the prosecutor”, and it was doubtful whether he could be re-arrested on the same charges.