Ex-minister jailed for genocide

Some 800,000 people were killed during Rwanda's 1994 genocide

A Rwandan ex-deputy interior minister who tricked thousands of people into hiding on a hill where they were butchered has been jailed for genocide.

Callixte Kalimanzira, 54, was sentenced to 30 years for his role in the 1994 slaughter.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda heard he supervised massacres in the southern region of Butare.

More than 800-000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in the 100-day genocide that shocked the world.

The international tribunal - which sits in Tanzania - is due to complete its work by the end of this year, but has asked for more time.

In his 2005 indictment, Kalimanzira was accused of luring thousands of Tutsi civilians to take refuge at Kabuye Hill in Ndora commune.

But when they arrived, hoping to find food and shelter, militias murdered them.

Kalimanzira - who was arrested in 2005 and pleaded not guilty - was also accused of seeking military and police reinforcements for the massacre.

He is said to have been a close ally of Rwanda's president and prime minister during the genocide.

According to Reuters news agency, Kalimanzira's sentencing raises the number of ICTR's judgments to 38, six of which were acquittals.

The ICTR was set up to try the ringleaders of the genocide.