The Rwandan Government has called on the United Nations to make up for its failure to prevent the 1994 genocide by helping reconstruct the country.

Government spokesman Joseph Bideri said that since the UN had accepted responsibility for its failures in Rwanda "it should also take the lead in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country".

A damning independent report released on Thursday said the UN was guilty of a catalogue of failures during the genocide.

A member of a genocide survivors' group, Josue Kayijaho, said the UN should also set up a fund to compensate victims.

Earlier the Rwandan Government demanded a formal apology from the UN.

UN regret

An independent inquiry team - headed by former Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson - said the UN had ignored evidence that genocide was planned and had refused to act once it had started.

In response, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed bitter regret and promised action to prevent another such disaster.

The report highlighted the role of Mr Annan, who was head of UN peacekeeping at the time, sharply criticising his failure to act on a warning of the risk of genocide sent by the head of the UN peacekeepers in Rwanda.

The three-man inquiry team was appointed in April. It conducted interviews with key players and had access to the UN's files.

The inquiry chairman said he hoped his report would help heal the wrongs and avert any future genocide.