UK arrests Rwanda intelligence chief on war crimes warrant

[JURIST] London's Metropolitan Police announced Tuesday that it has arrested Rwanda National Intelligence and Security Services head Karenzi Karake on an international warrant for war crimes. The European Arrest Warrant was issued in 2008 by Spanish High Court Judge Fernando Andreu for Karake's alleged role in the 1997 killings of three Spanish aid workers. The Rwandan government has strongly criticized the arrest. UK authorities have not yet said whether they will extradite Karake to Spain to stand trial, but have set a hearing for June 25.

Spain's assertion of jurisdiction for crimes that occur outside its boards has long been controversial. In February 2014, the country's parliament approved a bill to limit its use of so-called "universal jurisdiction." In October 2013, a Spanish court indicted former Chinese president Hu Jintao over the alleged genocide against Tibetans. Also in October, the Spanish government summoned US Ambassador to Spain James Costos to discuss spying allegations in light of documents released by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden. In April 2011, the Spanish National Court agreed to turn over to the US an investigation of torture claims at Guantanamo Bay, after increased pressure from the US. In 2009, the Spanish Congress limited the country's universal jurisdiction statute. Unlike the recent bill, the 2009 law only applied prospectively, allowing any on-going investigations to proceed, including investigations of Israeli actions in Gaza in 2002, detainee abuse at Guantanamo Bay and allegations of war crimes and genocide in Rwanda, Tibet, Guatemala, and China.