during the NATO invasion of the country; former Yugoslavia where he covered the 1996 refugee crisis; Moscow during President Yeltsin's attempt to put down the uprising in Chechnya; and Rwanda where he reported on the Central African Republic 's genocidal civil war. As the only television journalist left in the capital Kigali in 1994, Mates watched the city fall to the rebel army of the Rwandan Patriotic Front. He also reported on the slaughter of countless soldiers and civilians and the plight of the 700,000 refugees who fled the carnage. ITV News won a BAFTA for its coverage of the genocide. He also won a joint Silver Medal from New York for his 1996 coverage of the refugee crisis in former Yugoslavia. Just before covering the war in Rwanda, Mates had been in South Africa reporting on the first-ever democratic elections in the country, which culminated in Nelson Mandela's inauguration as President. Mates was Washington correspondent between 1997 and 2001. In 2001 he was awarded the title of "Senior Correspondent" for ITV News. In 2001 Mates played a key role in ITV News coverage of the September 11 attacks, reporting from New York and Washington. In January 2012, Mates became "Europe Editor" for ITV News, focussing on the future of the EU and what it means to the UK. As of 2016, Mates continues as Europe Editor, is making regular appearances on the ITV Weekend News, and is an occasional relief presenter on the ITV Lunchtime News and the ITV Evening News. Personal life Mates is the son of Conservative Party MP Michael Mates. He lives in London with his wife Fiona and three children: Leo, Flora and Charlie. Mates enjoys playing bridge and plays mostly at the Andrew Robson Bridge Club in West London. References External links 1961 births Alumni of the University of Leeds ITN newsreaders and journalists Living people People educated at Marlborough College