A GOVERNMENT official accused of helping to carry out the mass murder of thousands of civilians during the Rwandan genocide has settled under a false name in Britain.

Charles Munyaneza, 47, is alleged to have urged people to massacre Tutsis, saying at one point: “All of you, men, women and girls, must take part. I don’t want to see a single Tutsi alive on this hill.”

He was tracked down by The Sunday Times last week after evading trial for years.

The revelation that he is living in Britain prompted an immediate request by the United Nations international criminal tribunal for Rwanda that he be arrested and prosecuted in Britain on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

The chief prosecutor, Hassan Jallow, said that if the tribunal had not had to stop issuing new indictments so that it could complete its work by 2008 when it is due to be wound up, it would be seeking Munyaneza’s extradition.

But Jallow added that the tribunal would make available to the British courts all the evidence that it believes implicates the Rwandan in massacres.

“Given that there is this evidence against him, the British government should consider whether the British courts have jurisdiction over him to prosecute him in the UK because men like him should not be allowed to go scot free,” said Jallow.

In December, the tribunal sentenced an associate of Munyaneza, Aloys Simba, a retired lieutenant-colonel and former member of parliament, to 25 years in prison for genocide and crimes against humanity. Evidence was given during the hearing that Munyaneza had “acted in concert” with Simba.

Munyaneza thought he had left Rwanda far behind until he was found last Thursday. He has been living a quiet life in Bedford with his wife and four children, and working as a cleaner. His neighbours in the Putnoe district of the city had no idea about his past.

He had entered Britain in 1999 and sought asylum as a refugee. In 2002 the Home Office approved his refugee status and granted him unlimited leave to stay.

However, The Sunday Times has established that Munyaneza is living here under a false identity. He calls himself Charles Muneza.

He used a false name in South Africa, where he lived after leaving Rwanda. Then someone told the authorities and he was forced to leave. From South Africa he came to Britain. His wife Floride and their children joined him later.

Yesterday the respected human rights organisation African Rights also urged Britain to act against Munyaneza. A harrowing report it is issuing this week chronicles Munyaneza’s part in the genocide.

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