Unknown assailants on Sunday made two simultaneous grenade attacks in the city. The attacks injured six people. According to press reports, the attacks occurred at the Kinamba two- junction on the way to the Genocide memorial site at Gisozi.

The second attack was made at a bar around a kilometer away from the first attack. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the two simultaneous grenade attacks.

Defence ministers meet

The ministers of defence of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) on Monday met in the western border town of Gisenyi in an effort to eliminate negative forces from the DR Congo.

General Marcel Gasintzi the defence minister represented Rwanda while Charles Mwando Simba represented the DR Congo.

The meeting was also attended by high level security delegations from both countries including their two army chiefs. They discussed the implementation of their earlier reported joint military operation plan.

Simba was accompanied by the DR Congo army chief of staff General Didier Entumba and police Chief John Numbi.

This is the latest in the many meetings that have been held by officials from both countries in efforts to find lasting peace in the region.

Several bi-lateral meetings have been held to try and find a lasting solution to the security situation especially dealing with the genocidaire Forces for the Democratic Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

It was also reported this week that the French genocide revisionist writer Pierre Pean will stand trial again in a French appeals court.

The writer will be in court after a demand by a French rights group SOS-Racisme.

Pean wrote in his book "Noirs Fureurs, Blancs Menteurs” which when translated into English is "Black Furies, White Liars” that Tutsis were influenced by a "lying culture”.

SOS-Racisme and the Genocide survivor’s umbrella in Rwanda, IBUKA, accused him of slander and provocation to racial hatred but the 17th chamber of the first instance criminal court had acquitted him of the accusations on November 7.

President Paul Kagame this week gave his annual end of year speech and hailed the country’s achievements and encouraged Rwandans to even work harder to meet challenges ahead.

The president pointed out that the only way to compete fairly on the world market was to embrace new technologies that would add value to Rwandan products. 

He also according to press reports thanked the population for the positive attitude it showed towards development in 2008, which he said was generally a peaceful year and encouraged them to show the same resilience in 2009.

The president also hosted the end of year reception at Urugwiro Village gardens on Tuesday. The party was attended by a cross section of leaders both from the public and private sectors.

Kagame pointed out that good things have been collectively achieved and he underscored that regarding the encountered difficulties, it was not strange since that is how life goes.

Tourism earnings rise

It was reported this week that the Rwandan tourism sector recorded a massive 54 percent growth in 2008, generating about $214 million, $17 million more than what was raised in 2007.

The increased revenues are mainly attributed to the high turn up of tourists in the country which hit the one million mark in 2008.

The same statement also noted that the number of tourists coming into the country is estimated to rise up to 1.4 million by the end of this year.

Crime reduced

News this week had it that the rate of crime in the country reduced by 30 percent during the past year, with the police attributing this to the many community policing programmes adopted in 2008.

Ends