Ethiopia executes killer of security chief

August 6, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia on Monday executed a former military officer convicted of killing the country’s one-time security chief, the federal prison service said.

Major Tsehaye Woldesellasie had been convicted of the 2001 killing of Kinfe Gebremedhin, the ex-security and immigration chief and a close ally of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

“Major Tsehaye Woldesellasie was executed this morning after President Girma Woldegiorgis approved the death sentence handed to him by a court,” state-run Ethiopia television reported, citing the prison service statement.

His appeal was rejected by the Ethiopian Supreme Court. The method of execution was not specified.

“It is the second time the country has carried out an execution in nine years,” an official told AFP requesting anonymity.

In 1998, Ethiopia executed a businessman who was convicted of killing Major General Hayelom Araya, a popular Ethiopian commander who participated in the war to overthrow dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam.

(AFP)