Norway extends detention of Rwandan genocide suspect

OSLO (AFP) - A Norwegian court on Monday extended by two months the detention of a 45-year-old Rwandan suspected of murder during the 1994 genocide in his country.

While conceding that remanding the suspect, Sadi Bugingo, in custody for several months was a constraint for him, the Oslo court, citing the "gravity of the charges", said "it was necessary to guard against the risk of destruction of evidence and escape."

Bugingo, who has lived in the western Norwegian town of Bergen with his family since 2002, was arrested there last May 3.

According to Rwanda's New Times newspaper, Bugingo is suspected of murdering Tutsis in the southeastern town of Kibungo and elsewhere.

Bugingo's Norwegian lawyer however said his client denies all the allegations against him.

Bugingo is the second Rwandan to be arrested in Norway for an alleged role in the genocide of minority Tutsis by majority Hutus after Charles Bandora was arrested last year.

Bandora is currently on remand pending an investigation into his identity and possible extradition to Rwanda.

He denies the charges against him and claims he was the victim of persecution in Rwanda in 1994.