WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. government welcomes the convictions by an international tribunal of the leaders of a political party tied to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda announced the convictions of former National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development President Mathieu Ngirumpatse and former MRND Vice President and Minister of Interior Edouard Karemera on charges of genocide.
U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said that while at least nine fugitives are still on the run, the ruling was a positive development.
"The United States welcomes this ruling as an important step in providing justice and accountability for the Rwandan people and the international community," he said.
Both of the leaders were key figures in the interim government that helped established the Interahamwe militia, which played a dominate role in the genocide.
The court found both leaders were responsible for sexual violence committed against Tutsi women and girls during the 100-day massacre. Both men were convicted for their role in criminal acts meant "to destroy the Tutsi population" in Rwanda.
Conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic communities left roughly 800,000 people dead in a 100-day massacre in 1994.
Both men were sentenced to life in prison for their role in the genocide.
