Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Rwanda opposition asks U.S. to help defuse tension
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (0)
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Most Popular
Most Shared
Analysis: G20 doesn't even try to put brave face on debt mess
7:38am EDT
White hair a "healing sign" with melanoma drugs
8:09am EDT
WRAPUP 4-BP chief vows to stay, sees oil spill progress
10:54am EDT
BP chief vows to stay
| Video
11:04am EDT
Euro zone faces zero growth: Roubini
05 Jun 2010
Turkey hosts Eurasian summit amid Israel storm
6:23am EDT
Two men with militant ties arrested in NY: report
4:18am EDT
Circumcision may prevent sex-related penis injuries
04 Jun 2010
Gates defends U.S. spy chief nominee
6:41am EDT
New Apple iPhone on tap but may fail to dazzle
04 Jun 2010
White hair a "healing sign" with melanoma drugs
8:09am EDT
Drug fights tumors in advanced lung cancer
05 Jun 2010
Analysis: G20 doesn't even try to put brave face on debt mess
7:38am EDT
Turkey hosts Eurasian summit amid Israel storm
6:23am EDT
Tokyo cinema drops Japan-set docu "The Cove"
04 Jun 2010
Circumcision may prevent sex-related penis injuries
04 Jun 2010
Bangladesh lifts Facebook ban
3:53am EDT
BP chief vows to stay
| Video
11:04am EDT
Two men with militant ties arrested in NY: report
4:18am EDT
Australian police to probe Google over privacy issues
6:21am EDT
Commentary
Bernd Debusmann:
George W. Obama and immigration fantasies
The tone of the immigration debate is even more rancorous now than it was during George W. Bush's presidency and it features the same arguments, including the illusion that you can fully control the frontier between the U.S. and Mexico. Commentary
In Mexico, a drug war of choice?
In praise of Latin American immigrants
Rwanda opposition asks U.S. to help defuse tension
Hereward Holland
KIGALI
Sun Jun 6, 2010 10:37am EDT
Related News
UPDATE 2-Next Japan PM to tap fiscal reformers, Ozawa critics
2:36am EDT
U.S. lawyer retracts Rwanda "genocide denial" remarks
Wed, Jun 2 2010
WRAPUP 2-Japan PM quits, FinMin Kan frontrunner for job
Wed, Jun 2 2010
UPDATE 3-Thai prime minister survives no-confidence motion
Wed, Jun 2 2010
FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Rwanda
Tue, Jun 1 2010
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame attends a political rally by the the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) in the capital Kigali, May 15, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Hereward Holland
KIGALI (Reuters) - Three Rwandan opposition parties have asked the United States to use its influence to help resolve social and political tension in the country before the presidential election in August.
World | Politics
Rights groups say the government and the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) have become increasingly intolerant of dissent and criticism in the run-up to the vote, which President Paul Kagame is widely expected to win.
In an open letter last week to the U.S. ambassador in Kigali, Stuart Symington, and seen by Reuters on Sunday, the three-party coalition said: "We strongly believe that your leverage as the ambassador of the United States of America in Rwanda can help diffuse tensions as the presidential elections loom and... (the) military crisis deepens."
Regional analysts say the flight of a former army chief, the arrest of two senior officers and a military reshuffle since the beginning of the year are signs of a growing rift between Kagame and top aides in the RPF and the army.
The parties in the coalition, the Permanent Consultative Council of Opposition Parties in Rwanda, are PS Imberakuri, the Democratic Green Party and the United Democratic Forces. PS Imberakuri is the only registered party in the group.
The coalition asked for U.S. assistance in opening up politics, changing anti-genocide legislation and guaranteeing the security forces remained outside politics, and sought a postponement of the ballot, due take place on August 9, to allow more time to ensure it is transparent and free.
"Unless (development) efforts are underpinned by democracy, freedom and the rule of law, the achievements in that area will not be sustainable," the parties said.
In recent months, a series of unexplained grenade attacks in the capital have killed several people and injured dozens.
Kagame has rejected the allegations of discord with his generals and has said the officers who had been exiled and arrested were guilty of corruption.
"There should be accountability at every level. It doesn't matter whether you are a general, a president, an ordinary citizen, an MP or a minister, there should be a sense of accountability," he told a Ugandan newspaper last month.
In Washington, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson told Congress last month Rwanda had suspended two independent newspapers, arrested a high-profile opposition figure, expelled a human rights researcher and prevented two opposition parties from registering.
Rwanda rejects accusations of clamping down on opponents and says the government has pursued dialogue and accepted opposing views since the 1994 genocide.
(Editing by Andrew Dobbie)
World
Politics
Add a Comment
*We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters.
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Analyst Research
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Labs
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
FindLaw
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Sunday, 6 June 2010 Medvedev hopes 'irresponsible' Iran listening
Credit card fraudsters take aim at World Cup
Bomb at Afghan governor office kills 1, wounds 14
Romania: the last journey now broadcast live
Pro-Palestinian march in Paris draws Jews, Muslims
|
Obama vows help as BP sees oil spill progress
Brazil's Rousseff rises in poll, ties with Serra
|
Defeat won't hit confidence, vows Aussie coach
Protest-hit Bollywood awards get under way in Sri Lanka
Protest-hit Bollywood awards get under way in Sri Lanka
World Cup bypasses South Africa's neighbours
Russia urges NATO to fight Afghan drug trafficking
IATA meets as airline industry shows signs of recovery
Official says U.N.'s Ban offers panel on Israeli ship raid
|
Peru promises a fair trial for Dutch murder suspect
New world record for longest poker game
Bomb at Afghan governor office kills 1, wounds 14
Eurozone debt could squeeze banks: experts
Suicide bomber kills four police in Iraqi capital
|
New anti-cancer drug extends life of melanoma victims
Russia says world needs to do more for Afghanistan
|
Yemeni officer, soldier die in suspected Qaeda ambush
|
Next Japan PM to tap fiscal reformers
|
Bashir says Darfur peace talks are final round
|
N.Korea lashes out at UN drive over warship
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
'3 Idiots' sweeps Bollywood awards in Sri Lanka
Not forgotten: Remains of US soldier sought in Vietnam
Malaysian tycoon defends sports gambling
World Environment Day: Clinton Reiterates US Commitment
Japan's new PM to curb power of kingmaker Ozawa
Thai emergency powers raise justice, freedom fears
Call to improve Asia-Pacific relief coordination
Accidents prompt upgrade for Sydney Opera House
Bangladesh lifts ban on Facebook
Gates warns of more N.Korea 'provocations'
iPad imitators hope to bite into Apple's lead
Japan's new PM faces stagnant economy, debt mountain
Google to provide data to European authorities
|
Bangladesh lifts Facebook ban
|
Impressionism returns to Normandy with a homeland festival
New generation of Saudi novelists breaks taboos
Romania's city of Cluj sheds Dracula for film and art
Shakira performs before 85,000 people in Spain
'3 Idiots' sweeps Bollywood awards in Sri Lanka
More than 1,000 people create live Impressionist painting
Sotheby's to auction Lehman Brothers art collection
Greek gays rally against discrimination
Private collectors buy rare Orient Express coaches
Apple's Jobs expected to reveal new iPhone
Five killed, including 4 police, in Baghdad attacks
Foreigners 'rounded up' in Yemen anti-Qaeda sweep
Karzai orders review of prisoners' cases
Dell loses Taiwan consumer lawsuit: report
Iran opposition says regime playing into enemies' hands
China police crack down on hi-tech exam cheating
Oil spill cap catching about 10,000 barrels a day: BP
Afghan interior, intel chiefs resign over attack
Karzai orders review of Afghan detentions
|
Karzai orders review of Afghan Taliban detentions
Two New Jersey Men Arrested On Terror Charges
Turkey hosts Eurasian summit amid Israel storm
|
Karzai orders review of Taliban detentions
Obama Taps Clapper To Be Next Intelligence Chief
Thousands Rally In Support Of Arizona Immigration Bill
Gates, in Baku, seeks to shore up Afghan supply chain
|
Bomb kills Afghan police officer, 2 civilians
Rival candidate for president new headache for Merkel
|
Three Kurdish fighters killed in southeast Turkey
|
Rwanda opposition asks U.S. to help defuse tension
|
Pope says calm Mideast tensions now or more bloodshed
|
Clinton seeks better LatAm ties despite friction
N.Korea rails at South's UN drive over warship
Australian police to probe Google over privacy
Thailand 'back' after unrest, PM says on first overseas trip
Apologetic BP ads get criticism, not sympathy
Taiwan First Lady to make landmark visit to Russia
Immigration law supporters rally at Ariz. Capitol
Canadian crosses Sydney Harbour Bridge on global walk
Australian police to probe Google over privacy issues
|
US rockers The Pixies cancel Israel gig
'3 Idiots' movie sweeps annual Bollywood awards
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights