Rwanda's ex-president detained

Bizimungu: fallen foul of the authorities a number of times

Former Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu has been detained by police over what they say is illegal political activity.

They plan to charge Mr Bizimungu, an ethnic Hutu, with threatening state security.

He will be charged under Article 166 of the penal code concerning breach of security and spreading harmful propaganda against the state

Police spokesman Tony Kuramba

Mr Bizimungu resigned as president two years ago after falling out with the Tutsi-dominated government.

He formed an opposition party last year, which was promptly banned by the authorities.

Police also detained a former minister, Charles Ntakirutinka, who is close to Mr Bizimungu.

Symbol of reconciliation

The two men were held after their homes were raided on Friday and various documents seized.

"They're both helping police with enquiries concerning the illegal political activity they've been carrying out clandestinely," police spokesman Tony Kuramba told Reuters news agency.

Rwanda's military strongman Paul Kagame became president after Mr Bizimungu resigned

He said they would be charged under Article 166 of the penal code "concerning breach of security and spreading harmful propaganda against the state".

According to Rwandan state radio, if the charges are confirmed the former president will be liable to a prison sentence of between two and 10 years.

Pasteur Bizimungu is regarded by many as a symbol of reconciliation between Tutsis and Hutus after the 1994 genocide in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.

However, he has fallen foul of the authorities a number of times since an attempt to found an opposition party last June which was immediately declared illegal.

Public warnings

Mr Bizimungu, who is in his 50s, was accused of breaching legislation on party politics and preaching ethnic hatred.

He was briefly placed under house arrest and deprived of his privileges as a former head of state.

He had been publicly warned a number of times by President Paul Kagame that he should not indulge in divisive politics.

Correspondents say that before his resignation in March 2000, he had become increasingly unhappy with the direction the government was taking, and the suppression of internal dissent.