Ethiopia releases 878 suspects arrested in recent violence

ADDIS ABABA, June 30, 2005 (Xinhua) — Some 878 suspects, arrested in connection with the recent violence in the capital Addis Ababa, were released on Wednesday and Thursday, police said.

They said in a statement that 400 of the 1,387 suspects put under custody in the southern town of Zeway were released on Wednesday.

And 478 of them were released on Thursday after investigations, police said.

Police said the remaining suspects in Zeway prison were undergoing investigations, adding they were awaiting to face charges.

According to the statement, there were 4,455 suspects who had been put under custody in Zeway following the recent violence in the capital, of which 3,946 had been released in six rounds while 509 suspects whose cases are being investigated by the police are still under custody.

There are also 190 suspects under custody in the eastern town of Sendaffa awaiting their turns to undergo investigations, police added.

On June 8, police and security forces in the capital opened fire on stone-throwing crowds who were looting shops, robbing banks, attacking police and trying to free detainees in custody. At least 36 people were killed and thousands were detained after the deadly violence.

The ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front ( EPRDF) blamed the opposition parties for inciting the worst violence seen in the capital in four years. However, the opposition parties denied they were behind the protests and ensuing violence.

The opposition parties have accused Prime Minister Meles Zenawi- led EPRDF party of massive electoral fraud. The ruling party retains control of parliament according to official election results that have not yet been ratified. Final results were scheduled to announce on July 8.