A RWANDAN nun testified on Monday that a former fellow nun at a Rwanda convent encouraged refugees who had sought shelter there to leave in order to spare the nuns’ lives during the country’s 1994 genocide. Sister Gertrude, former mother superior of the convent, and Sister Maria Kisito are accused of premeditated murder and crimes against humanity over the killings of more than 5_000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates at the convent near the southern town of Butare. Both nuns deny the charges. Sister Mukasekure Cecile, one of 10 nuns due to testify on Monday, said Sister Gertrude encouraged the refugees to leave the convent, saying that if they stayed they would endanger the lives of the nuns as well as their own lives. An estimated 800_000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. – Reuters