Strike blocks genocide tribunal

Memories of the genocide remain fresh in Rwanda

Defence lawyers at the international court to try people over the 1994 genocide in Rwanda have gone on strike.

The strike has led to the postponement of three trials at the court, based in the Tanzanian town of Arusha.

The lawyers say the tribunal is skewed in favour of the prosecution and one told the BBC "a fair trial is impossible." Officials deny the claims.

Some 46 people face charges in Arusha for the killing of some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Woman charged

The strike is due to last three days.

The tribunal wants us here to make it look legitimate but it doesn't want us to represent the suspects effectively Christopher Black Defence lawyer

The trial involving one of the alleged masterminds of the genocide, Theoneste Bagosora, is among those postponed.

The trial of the first woman to be charged with genocide, former Minister of the Family and Women's Affairs Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, was also delayed.

She is accused of inciting the rape of Tutsi women during the genocide, among other charges.

Her trial had resumed earlier this week after a long adjournment.

Speedier justice

Striking lawyer Christopher Black told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was being used as a political tool for the United States.

ARUSHA TRIBUNAL 23 suspects on trials 22 suspects awaiting trial 17 convictions 1 acquittal Q&A: Long search for justice

"The tribunal wants us here to make it look legitimate but it doesn't want us to represent the suspects effectively."

He said that defence investigators were not given as much money as the prosecution teams.

The lawyers also want better access to their clients and to be given the names of prosecution witnesses, many of whom testify anonymously at present.

Mr Black denied that the lawyers were striking to get more money from the United Nations-backed trial for themselves, insisting the action was to protect the interests of their clients.

Correspondents say the tribunal has speeded up its work in recent months and has now convicted 17 people in eight years.

The Rwandan Government had accused it of being too slow and inefficient.

Last year, Hassan Jallow from The Gambia replaced Carla del Ponte as chief prosecutor.