The appeal to Irish law enforcement agencies for help in tracing the wanted men was made last week by the chief prosecutor's office at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Prosecutor Hassan Jallow briefed President Mary McAleese, who visited the country as part of her trip to Africa last week, on the request for Irish assistance.

"We have asked Ireland to help in leading to arrest some of the genocide suspects still hiding, " Jallow told local media after holding a private meeting with McAleese. "We have also asked for help in boosting the tribunal's trust fund and capacity building, " he added.

The ICTR was established in 1994 to try the key perpetrators of the bloodbath, which claimed lives of more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Since its establishment, 28 judgments have been rendered, including three acquittals. Trials are currently ongoing for 27 suspects. The UN has set a deadline of 2008 to complete all the pending cases. McAleese gave a commitment to the ICTR to look into its request.