U.N. marks anniversary of Rwandan genocide

WASHINGTON, April 7 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday ending genocide would be a tribute to the people who died in the Rwandan mass killings 15 years ago.

"Only by meeting this challenge can we match the resolve of the survivors and truly honor the memory of those who died in Rwanda 15 years ago," Ban said in a news release.

April 1994 saw the beginning of a genocide in Rwanda in which more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and Hutu moderates died during a period of less than 100 days.

The United Nations marked the 15th anniversary with a reading of survivors' testimonies, an event that coincided with similar activities in Congo, Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Mexico and Japan, the organization said. In addition, two photography exhibits on Rwandan survivors were on display in the visitor's lobby of U.N. headquarters in New York.

In a statement released by the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama said the anniversary was a "somber occasion that causes us to reflect upon the deaths of the more than 800,000 men, women, and children who were killed simply because of their ethnicity or their political beliefs."

Remembering the genocide, Obama said, "also deepens our commitment to act when faced with genocide and to work with partners around the world to prevent future atrocities."