Colonel cleared in Rwanda trial

BRUSSELS - A Belgian military court has acquitted Col Luc Marchal of the charge of accidental homicide of 10 of his men in Rwanda…

BRUSSELS - A Belgian military court has acquitted Col Luc Marchal of the charge of accidental homicide of 10 of his men in Rwanda two years ago.

At the start of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, Col Marchal ordered 10 Belgian UN peacekeeping troops to guard the Rwandan prime minister, Ms Agathe Uwilingiyimana, a Hutu, against rioters.

While on sentry duty at the prime minister's home, the paratroopers were taken prisoner and hacked to death. Ms Uwilingiyimana in turn was raped and killed.