Former France PM to stand trial

Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who is among the 33 French officials accused by the Mucyo commission for having taken part in the 1994 genocide, has been ordered to stand trial over a smear campaign against President Nicholas Sarkozy. Villepin was also heavily involved in developing the French foreign policy leading up to the Rwandan genocide. When he was French Foreign ministry’s top adviser. Among his questionable decisions are the import of weapons in spite of an arms import embargo, as well as the close links to Hutu officials responsible for the genocide. In August 2008, an independent Rwandan commission published a report on France’s role in the genocide. Dominique de Villepin’s name came up as one of the French officials responsible for training troops and militia that carried out the massacres. The ‘Mucyo Commission’ report also names former French President Francois Mitterrand, his son Jean Christophe Mitterand and several members of his cabinet as well as senior military officials as among those who should be held responsible for the slaughter of over a million people Rwandans in 1994. The judicial investigation hinged on the role Villepin allegedly had in spreading the allegations that Sarkozy had an account with Clearstream. At the time, Villepin and Sarkozy, considered rivals, were both seen as leading contenders for the presidency in 2007, though Villepin never ran. Ends

National

Former France PM to stand trial