Ethiopians demonstrate against Meles in Germany

Nov 5, 2005 (BONN) — Delegates to an international conference on Africa were pelted with tomatoes Saturday as some 400 people protested against political violence in Ethiopia and the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Meles was due to attend the conference which was opened in this west German city on Saturday evening by German President Horst Kohler, but he was not present at the time of the protests.

Some demonstrators threw tomatoes at participants as they arrived at the town hall to be received by the Mayor of Bonn, Barbel Dieckmann.

Four days of political violence in Ethiopia has killed 46 people and left more than 200 injured after opposition supporters claimed Meles’s ruling party rigged elections in May.

Meles has blamed the opposition for the violence and arrested several opposition figures.

Sporadic violence was reported in northern Ethiopia on Saturday and residents said it could continue if the government failed to release or charge detained opposition officials.

South African President Thabo Mbeki and Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo were among other leaders due to attend the conference, entitled Partnership with Africa, at the Petersberg residence near Bonn.

Outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was expected to take part in the opening dinner.

(AFP/ST)