[JURIST] French authorities arrested five suspects accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwanda genocide [BBC backgrounder] Friday, including Rwandan Catholic priest Wenceslas Munyeshyaka [TrialWatch profile] and former civil servant Laurent Bucyibaruta, who may be extradited to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) [official website] in Tanzania. Munyeshyaka is accused of repeatedly participating in the selection of Tutsi that were to be killed, as well as serving as an informant against Hutus who aided Tutsis. Munyeshyaka is also believed have participated in the rape of several women. Both suspects were arrested on international warrants issued by the ICTR on June 21.

Authorities said it is possible that the suspects will be tried in France, as magistrates have opened an investigation at the request of victims who survived the genocide. The ICTR, which is expected to complete its work by 2009, has transferred genocide cases [JURIST report] to Rwandan courts after the Rwandan government abolished the death penalty [JURIST report]. AP has more.