ADDIS ABABA Ethiopia
Ethiopia freed 38 opposition members following international
condemnation of the two-year case and the country’s history of human rights
abuses.
The pardons came Friday, after the United States urged
Ethiopia a key U.S. ally in the Horn of Africa to show clemency. The defendants
had been held since 2005 in connection with deadly election protests.
The politicians and activists left prison in a convoy of
minibuses minutes after Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced they had been
pardoned, sparking cheers and whistles from dozens of opposition supporters
outside Kaliti Prison.
“I hope this conveys the message that people are given
a second chance as long as they seek it,” Meles said.
The defendants, who sent formal apologies to the government
seeking pardons, were sentenced this week to prison terms, including life, for
inciting violence in an attempt to overthrow Meles’ administration. Prosecutors
had been pushing for the death penalty.
Hailu Shawel, leader of the opposition Coalition for Unity
and Democracy, was defiant after his release, saying he signed the apology
under duress.
