PARIS, June 5, 2008 (AFP) - Rwandan genocide suspect Dominique Ntawukuriryayo, who was arrested in France, was handed over Thursday to the war crimes tribunal in Tanzania, the justice ministry said.

Ntawukuriryayo, a former sub-prefect or regional governor, is accused by prosecutors of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda based in Arusha, Tanzania of taking part in the massacre of thousands of Tutsis from April to July of 1994.

Prosecutors say he used his authority as a regional official to order aides to carry out killings, including a massacre near Gisagara in southern Rwanda where thousands of Tutsis had gathered after being told they would be safe.

Ntawukuriryayo, who has French residency papers, has denied charges he took part in the genocide in which some 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis, were killed.