Rwandans jailed for 1994 massacre

About 800,000 people died in Rwanda's 100-day genocide in 1994

Eighteen people have been given prison terms for their part in the killing of some 20,000 people hiding in a church during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The massacre at the Nyarubuye Roman Catholic church was one of the single worst atrocities in the slaughter of some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The 18 were given jail terms of up to 25 years by a court in eastern Rwanda.

Verdicts are also due in the trial of three Rwandans accused of using the media to orchestrate the genocide.

'Indiscriminate killing'

Judge Moise Ruzezwa said those guilty of the church massacre had confessed in court that they played a role in the killing, which was why "the sentences were lenient when compared to the maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment".

The impact of 'Hate Media'

"They attacked people sheltering there and killed indiscriminately using spears, machetes, clubs, hand grenades and automatic weapons," the judge said.

Meanwhile - in the Tanzanian town of Arusha - the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, is due to deliver its verdict in the so-called "Hate Media" trial.

Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza and Ferdinand Nahimana, former top executives in Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines (RTLM), are accused of helping to orchestrate the genocide.

The radio station urged members of the ethnic Hutu majority to "exterminate the cockroaches".

It broadcast lists of people to be killed and instructed killers on where to find them.

Hassan Ngeze, who ran an extremist magazine called Kangura, has been charged with similar offences.

The prosecution has called for life sentences for all three men.