A former senior army officer in Rwanda has been detained in London, accused of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Tharcisse Muvunyi is wanted by the United Nations tribunal pursuing those responsible for Rwanda's 1994 genocide, in which hundreds of thousands were killed.

The BBC East Africa correspondent says Muvunyi was the senior army officer in the southern Butare region, which saw some of the worst excesses.

He's been living in London with his family and has now been detained on an extradition warrant.

He'll appear in court on Monday.

The British government said it was determined to support the Rwandan tribunal's efforts to bring the perpetrators of crimes against humanity to justice.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service