US welcomes Ethiopian prisoner release

March 24, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — The United States on Thursday welcomed Ethiopia’s move to drop conspiracy and other charges against 18 opposition figures and journalists, but expressed concern about 111 others still held.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack had a mixed reaction to the decision to forego prosecution of some of the defendants charged in the fierce clashes that broke out after bitterly disputed elections last May.

He called the release of the 18 defendants, including five journalists from Voice of America, “a welcome step” by the African state

“But there are still 111 people who remain in jail. And we continue to be concerned about the serious charges that have been levied against these individuals,” McCormack said.

“We call on the Ethiopian government to ensure a fair, transparent and speedy trial for those charged” as well as access to lawyers, their families and medical care as needed, he said.

(ST)