US condemns killing of Rwandan ex-spy chief

A picture taken on January 2, 2014 in Johannesburg shows the entrance of the "Michelangelo" Hotel. Colonel Patrick Karegeya, former head of Rwanda's external intelligence service, was found after being murdered in the "Michelangelo Towers Suites", where he has lived in exile for the past several years, the opposition party he belongs to said on January 2. PHOTO | ALEXANDER JOE  AFP

In Summary

• The body of Patrick Karegeya, a fierce critic of Kagame who had spent the past several years in exile, had marks to the neck, South African police said, indicating he might have been strangled.

WASHINGTON, Friday

The United States has condemned the killing of a former Rwandan spy chief Patrick Karegeya who was found dead in a luxury Johannesburg hotel, and voiced concern over a threatening statement by Rwandan strongman Paul Kagame.

Karegeya, who was a fierce critic of Kagame who had spent the past several years in exile, was found with marks on the neck, South African police said, indicating he might have been strangled.

This comes just days after Kagame said "treason brings consequences", without referring directly to the Karegeya case. (READ: Treason brings consequences: Kagame)

"If someone feels no shame in destroying what we have built over a period of time, I for my part will not feel shy of protecting what we have built. Anyone who betrays our cause or wishes our people ill will fall victim. What remains to be seen is how you fall victim," Kagame said.

"Well, we condemn -- we are aware of the case. We condemn the murder of former Rwandan government official, Colonel Patrick Karegeya in South Africa, where he lived in exile," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a press briefing Thursday.

She said the US welcomes South Africa's "prompt and thorough investigation" into Karegeya's death and was awaiting the outcome of the probe.

BLOODIED TOWEL

"We also welcome their statement pledging... to leave no stone unturned in bringing to justice those involved in this criminal act," Psaki said.

"And let me also say we are troubled by the succession of what appear to be politically motivated murders of prominent Rwandan exiles. President Kagame's recent statements about, quote, consequences for those who betray Rwanda, are of deep concern to us."

The police, who found a bloodied towel and a rope in the room's safe, have opened a murder probe, and Karegeya's supporters hae accused the Rwandan government of carrying out an assassination. The body was found January 1. (READ: Rwanda ex-spy chief 'murdered' in South Africa)

Karegeya was the former head of Rwanda's external intelligence service and once a close ally of Kagame.

In 2004 he was demoted, then arrested and served an 18-month jail sentence for desertion and insubordination. He was stripped of his rank of colonel in July 2006 and he fled the country the following year.