Former Rwandan army chief of staff enters not guilty plea at UN war crimes tribunal

Appearing before the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the former chief of staff of the Rwandan army pleaded not guilty today to charges of genocide and other war crimes.

Gen. Augustin Bizimungu is charged with 10 counts of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, crimes against humanity and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions.

In April, General Bizimungu was identified and arrested in Angola while he was at a demobilization area for members of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). He was transferred to the Tribunal last week and is one of the most senior former Rwandan military commanders to be apprehended to date by the court.