Family of activist slams 'false' charges

The family of a former Rwandan presidential candidate, Diane Rwigara, is demanding answers a week after she was taken into police custody. Voice of America reports that Rwigara has been charged with ‘forgery’ following her 23 September arrest but her family believes the only crime she committed was challenging President Paul Kagame by running for office. ‘These charges are false….they are totally false and nobody in Rwanda believes the validity of these charges. Everybody knows it's all made up,’ said Rwigara's brother Aristide Rwigara, who lives in the US. Human rights groups have accused President Kagame's party of harassing opponents and using intimidation to stifle any dissent to his rule. Kagame has led Rwanda since 2000 and was re-elected to a third term in August.