Citation
VATICAN CITY, April 11 (Reuter) - Rwanda's Roman Catholic bishops on
Monday deplored the violence in their central African country and
demanded an end to the bloody conflict.
In a scathing letter from the conference of Rwandan bishops, the
clergymen said they were horrified by the mass murders of priests and
children following the killing of Rwanda's president on Wednesday.
Dead bodies litter the streets, others rot in homes or hospital
corridors. We recount with pain that among them are many priests and
members of religious orders,
they said in the letter which was
published in the Vatican's daily bulletin.
We take this occasion to condemn with vigour the authors of the
violence...who spill the blood of fellow Rwandans with no respect for
leaders or pity for little children,
they added.
Rwanda is lurching towards full-scale civil war after tribal fighting
erupted following the assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana
and his counterpart from neighbouring Burundi.
The bishops demanded an end to the fighting.
The Catholic bishops of Rwanda want to see genuine and efficient
dialogue and negotiations. That is why were are asking the government
and the armed forces of Rwanda to stop the war and resolve their
conflicts.
Rwandan bishops did not take part in the opening of an important synod
of African bishops at the Vatican on Sunday because of the conflict.
A spokesman for the delegation said the five bishops would join the
synod, which lasts until May 8, only if the situation in Rwanda
improved.
(c) Reuters Limited 1994
