FF accuses Government of `playing into the hands' of the Tutsi government in Rwanda

THE row over Irish policy in Rwanda and eastern Zaire has deepened, with Fianna Fail accusing the Government of "playing into the hands of the Tutsi government in Rwanda".

"It's about time the Government stopped its blind following of the Tutsi-led Rwandan government and army," said Fianna's Fail's spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Ray Burke, shortly before a meeting yesterday with Rwanda's ambassador to Ireland, Mr Zac Nsenga.

Ms Joan Burton, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, responded angrily last night, accusing Mr Burke of "playing politics with people's lives" in Rwanda and Zaire.

"Mr Burke's destructive, headline-seeking attitude is an indication of an extraordinary lack of knowledge of what is going on in eastern Zaire," she said.

Mr Burke described the continuing deaths of refugees in eastern Zaire as a genocide which the Irish Government must try to halt. The onus was on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, and Ms Burton to express the "utter outrage" of the Irish people at the continued slaughter of Hutu refugees in Zaire.

"The fact cannot be ignored that Rwandan army officers are deeply involved in the tragedy that continues to unfold in Zaire. These officers are working hand in hand with the forces under the control of the rebel leader, Laurent Kabila."

The director of the aid agency Goal, Mr John O'Shea, repeated his call for the Government to use its "unique leadership" with the Rwandan government to stop the "genocide" of refugees.

Ms Burton, who meets the Rwandan ambassador today, said some responsibility for the situation must be borne by those who failed to convince the remaining refugees to follow the example of more than one million refugees who returned at the end of last year.

Many of the improvements in the Rwandan judicial system had come about through pressure from the Irish Government as part of a "continuous critical dialogue", she said.

The Government's position had been set out at the Dail foreign affairs committee three weeks ago, but Fianna Fail had said nothing then, she added.