Ethiopian opposition leaders under close surveillance after clashes

ADDIS ABABA, June 9 (AFP) — The leaders of Ethiopia’s main opposition group said Thursday they are under heavy surveillance by government agents but are no longer confined to their homes as they had been during deadly clashes between police and protestors earlier in the week.

Ethiopian opposition leader for the Coalition of Unity and Democracy (CUD) Hailu shawel, casts his vote at a polling station in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa May 15, 2005. (Reuters).

At the same time, they said eight mid-level officials from their Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) had been arrested late Wednesday after police opened fire on crowds during protests against disputed elections last month, killing at least 22 people.

They also that Ledetu Ayalew, the main spokesman for the CUD which the government blames for the violence, was being prevented from leaving his office by the security forces.

“Today I went out and managed to go to the office, but three cars are still following me and one car is constantly parked in front of my house,” CUD chairman Hailu Shewal told AFP.

The European Union late Wednesday said it had protested to the government about Hailu’s house arrest and restrictions placed on the movement of other CUD officials, including vice-chairman Berhanu Nega.

Berhanu on Thursday said he too was able to leave his home but was also being followed by cars of plain-clothed police.

Hailu said that despite his ability to move, eight CUD administrative officials had been arrested by police or government agents at their homes overnight Wednesday.

AFP could not immediately confirm the detentions with Ethiopian authorities.