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Rwanda recalls France ambassador Rwanda cuts relations with France
(about 10 hours later)
Rwanda has recalled its ambassador to France in a row over arrest warrants in connection with the 1994 genocide, issued by a French judge. Rwanda has broken off diplomatic ties with Paris, in a row over a French inquiry related to the 1994 genocide.
The judge signed warrants for nine aides of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The government has recalled its envoy to Paris and given the French ambassador to Kigali 24 hours to leave.
They are accused of involvement in the shooting down of a plane carrying Rwanda's former president - an incident which sparked the mass slaughter. A French judge issued warrants two days ago for the arrest of nine aides of the Rwandan leader over his predecessor's killing - which sparked the genocide.
The judge has accused Mr Kagame of ordering the former president's death. Mr Kagame has denied involvement. Rwanda has accused Paris of trying to destabilise its government. France said it regretted Rwanda's move to cut ties.
Paris has insisted the French judge, Jean-Louis Bruguiere, acted on his own authority and in total independence.
Issuing the warrants, Judge Bruguiere accused President Paul Kagame - who under French law has immunity as head of state - of ordering the former president's death. Mr Kagame has denied involvement.
More than 800,000 people died in the 100-day massacres of Tutsis and moderate Hutus which followed the killing of the ethnic Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana.More than 800,000 people died in the 100-day massacres of Tutsis and moderate Hutus which followed the killing of the ethnic Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana.
The French allegations have sparked anger in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where around 25,000 people are reported to have taken part in a government-organised demonstration against France. 'No pressure'
Foreign Minister Charles Murigande told AFP news agency Kigali had recalled its ambassador to Paris as they didn't "see why he should be there at this point". The French allegations have sparked anger in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where about 25,000 people reportedly took part in a government-organised demonstration against France on Thursday.
He said Kigali had not yet decided whether to send the envoy back. ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED James Kabarebe, military chief-of-staffCharles Kayonga, army chief-of-staffFaustin Nyamwasa-Kayumba, ambassador to IndiaJackson Nkurunziza, working for presidential guardSamuel Kanyamera, RPF deputyJacob Tumwime, army officerFranck Nziza, presidential guard officerEric Hakizimana, intelligence officerRose Kabuye, director general of state protocol href="/1/hi/world/africa/3170451.stm" class="">Profile: Paul Kagame href="/1/hi/world/africa/6181988.stm" class="">Decades of tension The Rwandan government has said the French ambassador to Kigali must leave within 24 hours. Other French diplomats have 72 hours to go.
"France is intent on destroying our government, we do not see any need for keeping any relationship with a hostile country." Foreign Minister Charles Murigande earlier told AFP news agency that Kigali had recalled its ambassador to Paris as the ministry did not "see why he should be there at this point".
"France is intent on destroying our government, we do not see any need for keeping any relationship with a hostile country," Mr Murigande said.
BBC world affairs correspondent Mark Doyle says the only surprise about Rwanda's decision to break off diplomatic relations with France is that it has not come earlier.
Mr Kagame's Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) - effectively the government - has had appalling relations with Paris for over two decades, he says, and whatever the quality of the French judge's evidence, the whole affair was always going to be deeply politicised.
The French foreign ministry said in a brief statement that Rwanda's decision to break off diplomatic ties would take effect from Monday.
"We regret this decision. We are making all necessary arrangements," it said.
Speaking earlier on Friday, a spokesman had said Paris had no intention of recalling its own envoy to Kigali and wanted to keep dialogue open.
MissilesMissiles
The French judge, Jean-Louis Bruguiere, is investigating the case because the crew of the plane were French and the families filed a case in France in 1998. Judge Bruguiere is investigating the case because the crew of the plane were French and their families filed a case in France in 1998.
Those the judge wants to arrest include armed forces chief James Kabarebe and army chief-of-staff Charles Kayonga. Under French law, as head of state Mr Kagame has immunity. Thousands turned out to protest against France
ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED James Kabarebe, military chief-of-staffCharles Kayonga, army chief-of-staffFaustin Nyamwasa-Kayumba, ambassador to IndiaJackson Nkurunziza, working for presidential guardSamuel Kanyamera, RPF deputyJacob Tumwime, army officerFranck Nziza, presidential guard officerEric Hakizimana, intelligence officerRose Kabuye, director general of state protocol href="/1/hi/world/africa/3170451.stm" class="">Profile: Paul Kagame Those he wants to arrest include armed forces chief James Kabarebe and army chief-of-staff Charles Kayonga.
Judge Bruguiere has said that only Mr Kagame's Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) forces had missiles capable of downing President Habyarimana's plane.Judge Bruguiere has said that only Mr Kagame's Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) forces had missiles capable of downing President Habyarimana's plane.
He said the attack was carefully planned by the RPF.He said the attack was carefully planned by the RPF.
Mr Kagame has denied this and has always accused France of having links to those who carried out the genocide. Mr Kagame has denied this, describing suggestions that he was behind the assassination of the former president as scandalous.
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) brushed aside suggestions from Judge Bruguiere that Mr Kagame should stand trial there. He has always accused France of having links to those who carried out the genocide.
"The prosecutor takes instructions from nobody in the world," said Everard O'Donnell, spokesman for the Arusha-based tribunal.
"The crash did not create the genocide," he said.
Protests
Mr Kagame has described suggestions that he was behind the assassination of the former president as scandalous.
Thousands turned out to protest against France
After Habyarimana's plane crashed, Hutu extremists started massacring ethnic Tutsis and Hutu moderates.After Habyarimana's plane crashed, Hutu extremists started massacring ethnic Tutsis and Hutu moderates.
The genocide came to an end when Mr Kagame's then rebel RPF seized power 100 days later.The genocide came to an end when Mr Kagame's then rebel RPF seized power 100 days later.
The RPF has always said the Hutu extremists shot down the presidential plane to provide a pretext to carry out the genocide.The RPF has always said the Hutu extremists shot down the presidential plane to provide a pretext to carry out the genocide.
"That some judge in France whose name I cannot even pronounce has something to say about Rwanda - trying a president and some government officials - that's rubbish," Mr Kagame said on Wednesday.
And at the rally in Kigali, activists hit out at France.
"The French trained Interahamwe [Hutu militias] everywhere in the country but it did not stop them from losing," Francois Ngarambe, president of genocide survivors' group Ibuka told demonstrators.
He accused France of sheltering genocide suspects. "If they want justice, why don't they start with such people?" he said.