Rwandan prosecutors requested life sentences for two men suspected of killing a journalist who was strongly critical of the government of President Paul Kagame, a rights activist said on Saturday.

Didace Nduguyangu and Antoine Karemera were arrested on June 25, the day after Jean-Leonard Rugambage, a journalist who claimed to have uncovered the government's responsibility in the attempted murder of an army general exiled in South Africa, was shot dead in Kigali.

Nduguyangu had pleaded guilty, saying that he acted on Karemera's advice after Rugambage killed members of his family in the 1994 genocide. Karemera denied any responsibility.

"The prosecution requested life imprisonment against both of them," said a Rwandan human rights activist who was present for Friday's hearing.

The activist said the court would hand down its judgment on October 29, which was confirmed by other people present in the courtroom.

Rwandan authorities have denied any involvement in the murder.

Rugambage, who was deputy editor of fortnightly publication Umuvugizi, was briefly investigated for his role in the genocide in which 800,000 people died, and he was acquitted.

Umuvugizi and another critical publication, Umuseso, were suspended by the government in April, prompting criticism that Kagame was attempting to muzzle opposition ahead of August's elections, which he won by a huge margin.

The suspension expired on Wednesday.

Source: AFP