8 200 Ethiopians freed

2005-11-15 13:22

Addis Ababa - Ethiopian authorities say they have now freed more than 8 200 people who were seized after days of political unrest that claimed the lives of at least 46 people and rocked the nation.

Police said: "The detainees were released as they were not found to be direct actors in the violence."

Police had been making statements about releases in recent days, but had yet to announce how many people were rounded up after security forces clashed with demonstrators or how many would face charges.

Police would try to finalise investigations and "bring the remaining suspects to justice".

The latest unrest in Ethiopia followed the deaths of at least 42 people in June in similar protests during May election.

Eight journalists held

Meanwhile, an independent media watchdog said two more journalists had been detained in a growing crackdown, bringing the numbers of journalists arrested to eight.

Among those seized were leaders of the main opposition group, members of local civil society organisations and editors of newspapers.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said some were expected to face treason charges for their alleged part in orchestrating the violence.

Ann Cooper of the Committee to Protect Journalists said: "The committee is outraged by these ongoing arrests.

"We call on the Ethiopian authorities to abandon any idea of bringing treason charges against journalists, and to end this blatant attempt to shut down the country's independent media."

Independent investigation

The European Union and the United States had called for all political detainees to be freed.

Meles, known as one of the continent's most progressive leaders, had pledged that his government would introduce greater democracy. He has ordered an independent investigation into the unrest.

Many saw the May polls as a test of his commitment to reform. The opposition said his party stole victory.

Ethiopia was an absolute monarchy under emperor Haile Selassie until the mid-1970s, after a brutal Marxist junta overthrew him.

Civil wars wracked the ethnically fractured country in the 1980s, and famine took as many as 1m lives. Meles's group overthrew the junta in 1991.

- AP