Rwanda arrests top military men

Kigali, 21 April-(ANA)-Two high-ranking officers have been suspended from Rwanda's military and put under arrest, a military spokesperson has announced.

Maj-Gen Charles Muhire has been accused of corruption and misuse of office, while Lt-Gen Karenzi Karake is accused of immoral conduct.

The accusations come just days after a reshuffle in Rwanda's military leadership and ahead of elections due in August.

It follows reports in a local newspaper that the men had misunderstandings with President Paul Kagame.

However, the government has dismissed these reports as rumours.

A few days later, the Kinyarwandan (one of Rwanda's official languages) independent newspaper was suspended for publishing false information and inciting resentment in the army.i.

Investigations into the two generals' alleged crimes are still underway and it is still not clear whether their cases will end in trials, Rwandan army spokesperson Maj Jill Rutaremara said.

Gen Karake is a former director of intelligence and deputy head of the African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur, Sudan.

Gen Muhire is a former air force chief.

Both men held top positions in the military campaign conducted by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) to end the 1994 genocide.

A few months ago, President Kagame increased the salaries of his Presidential Brigade - the soldiers responsible for guarding the president - but not those of other military personnel.

Rwanda's next presidential polls are due in August 2010 and Mr Kagame is expected to seek re-election.(ANA)

FA/ANA/21 April 2010-------