ARUSHA, Tanzania (AFP) - An ally of Rwanda's former president Juvenal Habyarimana, whose death is believed to have sparked the 1994 genocide, asked for forgiveness Wednesday for his role in the massacre.

Michel Bagaragaza, the former director of Rwanda's tea sector, pleaded guilty to the charge of complicity to commit genocide before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in September.

He confessed to storing arms to be used in the killings at a tea factory in northern Rwanda and giving beer, money and vehicles to the Hutu militia that carried out the massacre out of fear for his security and that of his family.

The 55-year-old is the ICTR's ninth suspect to plead guilty.

"I ask for forgiveness for all the wrong things I did," said Bagaragaza, a day before his sentencing.

"I made the wrong choice and took easy options at a difficult time," he added. "I am left with regret and scars that I cannot erase."

"I told the tribunal investigators that I undertake to tell them the truth about what they wanted to know, including my role. I did it," he said, adding that he did not regret cooperating with the court.

Some 800,000 people, mainly minority Tutsis, were killed in the massacre believed to have been triggered by the downing of Habyarimana's plane on April 6, 1994.

Bagaragaza also testified against other genocide suspects, including Habyarimana's brother-in-law. His lawyer said his cooperation had sparked threats against his family.

The prosecution however urged the tribunal to consider the gravity of Bagaragaza's offence despite confessing.