Musician denies genocide charges

The tribunal, set up in 1995, has prosecuted 18 people

A well-known Rwandan musician pleaded not guilty on Monday to six counts of genocide at a UN tribunal in Tanzania.

Prosecutors alleged that Simon Bikindi, 49, wrote song lyrics promoting Hutu solidarity when he worked for the then Hutu-extremist government.

"Truth will prevail over lies, and love over hatred," Mr Bikindi told Judge Lloyd George Williams.

Some 800,000 people, mainly minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus, were killed during the 1994 genocide.

It was the second time Mr Bikindi has entered a plea at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, after prosecutors said they had found new evidence against him.

Prosecutors have since amended the indictment against Mr Bikindi in line with the new evidence. However, the nature of this new evidence remains unclear.

Costly

Mr Bikindi, who was an official in Rwanda's youth and sports ministry in 1994, first pleaded innocent to six counts of genocide in April 2002.

His trial has yet to begin, but after eight years proceedings at the Rwandan international court have recently gathered pace.

Since the appointment of a new chief prosecutor and the posting of a number of extra judges to the ICTR last year, there have been several new convictions.

A total of 18 people have now been convicted for their part in the 100 days of killing, and there have been three aquittals.

This progress has pleased critics concerned that the process could drag on indefinitely. At a cost of $177m (£97m) last year, there is a growing realisation that it cannot go on for ever.

But the quickening pace has also angered defence lawyers, prompting a two-day strike which disrupted hearings in January.