A U.N. war crimes court trying the top suspects of Rwanda's 1994 genocide have for the first time referred a case to be tried in Rwanda itself.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda said Tuesday it referred the case of Jean Uwinkindi, a pastor, to Rwanda's national court system.

Rwanda has in the past unsuccessfully sought to have the tribunal in Arusha, Tanzania transfer some of its cases to Rwanda.

The international tribunal had previously said that conditions were not yet in place in Rwanda for a fair trial. However, the court said Tuesday that legal changes in Rwanda have now made a trial there possible.

It noted that Rwanda has indicated a willingness to adhere to internationally recognized fair trial standards.

The tribunal in Tanzania was established to try those considered most responsible for Rwanda's 1994 genocide.

During the genocide, extremist Hutus killed an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.