Rwanda has proposed the world's first country-wide DNA database, a project that will involve collecting samples from all of the country's 12 million citizens in an effort to crack down on crime.

The scheme has prompted concerns from human rights campaigners who believe the database could be misused by the government and violate international human rights laws.

Plans for the database were announced by Rwanda's Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye.

Speaking in the country's capital, Kigali, he said the project would help to fight crimes like rape and murder.

He said: "We think we have the technical basis now to launch into the development of a DNA database. That said, it is first of all a legal process.