Rwandan election 'harassment'

Twagiramungu denies violating electoral laws

A leading Rwandan opposition politician, Faustin Twagiramungu, has complained that his supporters are being harassed by the incumbent government in the run up to this month's presidential elections - the first since the 1994 genocide.

But Mr Twagiramungu was himself criticised on Thursday by the electoral commission, which said he had breached electoral law by campaigning in the southern Butare province without informing the authorities.

Mr Twagiramungu told the BBC he had not campaigned on the way to an election meeting in the town of Butare. He also denied allegations that he had used the internet to attack incumbent President Paul Kagame.

Mr Kagame, a Tutsi, launched his campaign early this week standing on a platform of national unity, and of boosting the country's economy and delivering justice.

'New directions'

Mr Twagiramungu resigned as prime minister of Rwanda's transitional government eight years ago after differences with Mr Kagame.

He stresses the importance of national unity and calls for new directions of economic and foreign policy.

Mr Kagame's other main challenger, Dr Alivera Mukabaramba, Rwanda's first female presidential candidate, who represents a new party, Progress and Harmony, promises to provide free primary and secondary education.

Kagame promises to deliver justice

The third main independent presidential candidate, a former minister Jean-Nepomuscene Nayinzira, claims to have joined the race to help create a democratic opposition to the government.

The BBC's Robert Walker says with only two weeks to go before polling the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front party (RPF), is putting its a high-profile campaign into top gear, with T-shirts, caps, posters and umbrellas bearing the image of Mr Kagame.

Mr Twagiramungu is expected to hold his first public rally in the capital, Kigali, on Saturday, a key test of his support base, as the election campaign enters its crucial stage.

Mr Kagame will take his campaign north to Gisenyi and Ruhengeri provinces.