Consistent with their view, hard-line Tutsi politicians are today calling for trials of Hutu politicians and insisting on an international tribunal to look into the killings.

They have tried to mount a campaign to exterminate all members of the Tutsi minority tribe and have even hunted down moderate Hutu politicians.

Take Dr. Mugesera, the Hutu politician, who not only made inflammatory speeches but is accused of being a member of a death squad.

The militiamen and Hutu politicians they had followed no longer had any control.

Two ethnic Hutu politicians were disqualified by the electoral commission for fraud in recent days.

When Pasteur Bizimungu, another Hutu politician, resigned as president in 2000 and set up a rival party, the government immediately banned it.

On the other side, Hutu politicians assert that they are fighting for democracy.

The violence began in November 1959, following the beating up of a Hutu politician, Dominique Mbonyumutwa by Tutsi forces.

"The Hutu politicians have created a situation from which there is no escape," said Alison Desforges of Africa Watch, a human rights group.

Several prominent Hutu politicians were reported slain along with opposition figures, civilians and at least 10 peacekeeping soldiers.