Former US president George W Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Paul Rusesabagina in Washington on November 9 2005. Picture: REUTERS/JASON REED
The Rwandan government dismissed the demand, revealed by his son, after Rusesabagina, who lives in the US and had been travelling, appeared in handcuffs back in his homeland on Monday. His family said he had been kidnapped; Rwandan officials said he had been arrested on an international warrant on terrorism charges.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau said he would face several charges including “terrorism, financing terrorism ... arson, kidnap and murder”.“If the Rwandan government think they have a solid case against him on terrorism charges or financing of terrorism, then they have to take it to an international court,” Roger Rusesabagina, his elder son, said in the interview.
The Belgian foreign ministry said Rwanda had informed Belgium of the arrest but declined to comment further.