Another 754 protesters freed in Ethiopia

Nov 16, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia has freed another 754 people arrested in a massive round-up during anti-government protests that led to 42 deaths earlier this month.

The latest release brings to 9,047 the number of people freed since the crackdown by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government on demonstrations over a disputed May 15 election.

“The 754 detainees who were released on Tuesday were mostly students who were detained at Zuwai prison. They were released after they were found not to be involved in the recent rioting,” state media quoted police as saying on Tuesday.

Authorities on Tuesday had already announced the release of another 3,858 arrested in the unrest.

The government has not said how many people in total had been arrested, but opposition and diplomatic sources believe several thousand more are still in jail.

Most opposition leaders and several editors of privately-owned newspapers remain jailed. Meles said last week they would be charged with treason for inciting insurrection.

The latest unrest in Ethiopia followed the deaths of 36 people in June in similar protests over the election.

The Ethiopian parliament voted on Monday to appoint an independent commission to investigate whether security forces used excessive force to quell the violence that has fuelled fears for the stability of the Horn of Africa’s dominant power.

(Reuters)