From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Thu Mar 18 2010 - 11:47:32 EST
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/world/africa/16briefs-Ethiopia.html
Ethiopia: Opposition Criticizes Verdict in Killing By JASON McLURE Published:
March 15, 2010
A leader of Ethiopia’s opposition alliance on Monday criticized a court
verdict in the stabbing death of an opposition parliamentary candidate,
accusing the ruling party of intimidating a key witness. The candidate,
Aregawi Gebre-Yohannes, was killed March 2 at his restaurant in the Tigray
region. The opposition said the candidate was killed by supporters of the
ruling party. The killer, Tsegie Berhane, was sentenced last week to 15
years in prison, said Shimeles Kemal, a government spokesman. Mr. Tsegie was
granted leniency because he had confessed, Mr. Shimeles said, adding that
the accused was not a member of a party. “It was an arranged and
orchestrated court,” said Gebru Asrat, a leader of the Arena party, part of
the opposition alliance. He said witnesses who testified had been “involved
in the killing.”
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