Belgian news in brief, 4 September 2006 04/09/2006 00:00

Summons likely over soldiers' murders

The federal prosecutor requested on Monday the summons of Rwandan army major Bernard Ntuyahaga for the murder of 10 Belgian paratroopers in Kigali on 7 April 1994. A ruling will be handed down on Thursday, but the issuing of a summons is considered likely. The trial would then probably open for proceedings at the start of 2007. It is a complex dossier and the trial could take several weeks. The prosecutor is also demanding that Ntuyahaga be placed on trial for other murders committed during the Rwandan genocide.

Man arrested over fatal car accident

A 19-year-old man has been arrested after a family was run down in a traffic accident in Vilvoorde city centre. The man's vehicle collided with a woman and her three-year-old daughter, killing the mother and leaving the girl in a critical condition. The father was able to avoid the oncoming car. The family was waiting for a bus at the time of the accident. The driver of the car was allegedly driving 100kmh in a 50kmh zone. He had obtained his licence only two weeks ago.

Gordel event less popular

More than 70,000 people took part on Sunday in the 26th Edition, a Flemish sports event. Numbers were down on last year, when more than a 100,000 people participated. The event includes walks and cycling trips through the Flemish villages around Brussels to stress their Flemish character.

Youths 'don't know road rules'

Flemish motorists association VAB has claimed that road-traffic education in secondary schools must be improved. It said almost half of high schools pay no attention to traffic education and many youths don't know road rules or don't know them well enough. VAB based its findings on a survey of 290 youths who attended high school in the past six months. Schools have been obligated to provide traffic education since the previous school year.

[Copyright Expatica News 2006]

Subject: Belgian news