France supported Rwanda genocide: Rwanda president News
France supported Rwanda genocide: Rwanda president

[JURIST] Rwandan President Paul Kagame [official website; BBC profile] publicly alleged Wednesday that France supported the 1994 genocide [HRW backgrounder; BBC backgrounder] that wracked the African nation. Kagame previously accused the French government of providing training and weapons [JURIST report] to Hutu militias who perpetrated the 100-day massacre that left over 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus dead. This is nonetheless the first time the Rwandan president has blamed the French for failing to stop the killings and for supporting the government that carried out the massacre. Kagame's comments follow a decision by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) [official website] to accept into evidence [JURIST report] a report compiled by a French anti-terrorism judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere [BBC profile] that implicated Kagame in the 1994 killing of former president Juvenal Habyarimana [Wikipedia profile], which sparked the genocide.

Last month, Bruguiere issued several arrest warrants for Rwandan officials [JURIST report] and pressed for Kagame himself to be tried for Habyarimana's murder. Rwanda has severed diplomatic ties [JURIST report] with the French government over the bid. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.