[JURIST] Trials commenced Monday at the UN-backed International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda [official website; JURIST news archive] for four former Rwandan officials, including two government ministers suspected of taking part in the 1994 genocide [PBS report] that killed 800,000 people. Ex-interior minister Edouard Karemera, ex-industry and mines minister Joseph Nzirorera and ex-director general for foreign affairs Mathieu Ngirumpatse [ICTR case materials] were all accused of giving orders to the brutal Interahamwe militia [Wikipedia profile] that slaughtered thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus in the conflict. Jean Mpambara [ICTR case materials], former mayor of Rukara commune, was being tried separately. He is alleged to have offered refuge to thousands of fleeing Tutsis before ordering rebels to kill them. All four men have denied the accusations. Reuters has more.