Rebels accuse Rwanda president of terror campaign

By Agence France Press
June 2, 2010

NAIROBI (AFP) – Rwandan rebels based in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday accused President Paul Kagame of running a campaign of terror against his opponents.

The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda condemned what it called "the campaign of terror orchestrated by Kagame's services against political opponents, defenders of human rights and the civilian population."

The Hutu fighters, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, also criticised "recent grenade attacks against innocent civilian populations in Kigali," in the statement signed by the executive secretary and spokesman for the organisation, Callixte Mbarushimana.

Rwandan authorities had initially blamed the FDLR for these attacks, before accusing former members of the regime, now living in exile.

Victoire Ingabire, a likely challenger to Kagame in August presidential elections, was arrested on April 21 on suspicion of collaborating with the FDLR in acts of terrorism, charges she denies.

FDLR rebels have been operating out of eastern Congo since the aftermath of the genocide by Hutus against the Tutsi minority.

An estimated 800,000 people, mostly ethnic Tutsis, were massacred over the course of about 100 days from April to July 1994.