Kigali: The three former FDLR militia members to be paraded in court as accomplices to opposition politician Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza deserted the FDLR rebels before the period they are alleged to have been in contact with her, new information suggests.

These are Lt. Col No�l Habiyaremye, Lt. Col Tharcisse Mbiturende and Lt. Jean Marie Karuta.

According to Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga, these men were arrested in Burundi as they prepared to implement the plans of causing instability in Rwanda.

The FDU-Inkingi chair Victoire Ingabire was allegedly in contact with the three FDLR men with plans to launch a rebel group called CDF to topple government.

According to prosecution, Ms. Ingabire met Lt. Col Tharcisse Mbiturende in Kinshasa over the details of the proposed rebel force, which would include remnants of FDLR ranks.

Prosecution also claims the Colonel received money through Western Union from Victoire Ingabire from the Netherlands, and that they kept in touch through email.

However, the FDLR rebels revealed that the three government prisoners and informants are not members of the rebel force.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Paris-based FDLR Secretary General Callixte Mbarushimana said Lt. Col Habiyaremye deserted in October 2007, while Lt. Col Mbiturende and Lt. Karuta abandoned the rebel ranks in May 2008.

The FDLR Secretary General also said in the press statement that the group does not have any connections with the FDU-Inkingi party, nor Ms. Ingabire.

Related story:
Rwanda: Three �FDLR Ingabire accomplices� arrested

FDLR irahakana ko ikorana na Victoire Ingabire n�ishyaka ayoboye FDU-Inkingi