Sweden urges Ethiopia to release 3 terror suspects

May 2, 2007 (STOCKHOLM, Sweden) — The Swedish government on Wednesday called on Ethiopia to release two Swedes and man with a Swedish residence permit who have been held for months in the African country, or put them on trial.

The Foreign Ministry presented a formal letter of protest to Ethiopia’s ambassador in Stockholm, ministry spokesman Andre Mkandawire said.

“They have to be let go, or be given a trial,” Mkandawire said, adding that Ethiopia had not given any explanation of why the men were being held.

The three have been imprisoned since the beginning of this year when they were among dozens of foreigners detained as terror suspects.

Human rights groups have said that the detentions are illegal, but Ethiopia has denied that. A Kenyan Muslim rights group has compiled a list saying detainees also include citizens from the U.S., Canada, France, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Tunisia and Morocco.

Sweden, Canada and Eritrea have lobbied for information about their citizens in Ethiopia, where human rights groups say hundreds of prisoners, including women and children, have been transferred secretly and illegally.

(AP)