Thc trial of Georges Anderson Nderubumwe Rutaganda has been going on since 18 March 1997 before Trial Chamber 2 of the ICTR, composed of Judge Laïty Kama, as presiding Judge, and Judges Lennart Aspegren and Navanethem Pillay.

These first two weeks of the trial were devoted to the depositions of the Prosecutor's witnesses. Out of thirty-five witnesses that the Prosecutor intends to call, three have already been heard: one expert witness and two prosecution witnesses, thc latter being protected in accordance with a decision made by the Tribunal on w6 September 1996, at the request of the Prosecutor.

This afternoon, the Trial Chamber decided to adjourn the trial. The date of resumption of the trial will be known after a status conference to be held on Tuesday 1st April 1997.

Another trial is scheduled to start on 9 April 1997, subject to the decision of the Tribunal on a new request for joinder of the accused filed by the Prosecutor. On that date, Trial Chamber 1 will start holding the joint trial of Clément Kayishema and Obed Ruzindana. The joinder of accused was decided by the Tribunal at its hearing of Wednesday 6 November 1996. This will be the third trial before the ICTR. Clément Kayishema and Obed Ruzindana will be defended respectively by Me André Ferran and Me Pascal Besnier, who have been assigned by the Registrar.