Judge frees 25 government critics in Ethiopian treason trial

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia: An Ethiopian judge on Monday freed 25 opposition supporters and journalists who faced life in prison or the death penalty after being put on trial for attempted genocide and treason.

Federal High Court Judge Adil Ahmed said the prosecution had failed to prove the charges, which are part of a controversial trial of more than 130 opposition leaders, aid workers and union members, sparked by disputed 2005 elections.

"There is no evidence against them," the judge told the courtroom before acquitting eight journalists and 17 members of the main opposition party. He said the defendants, who have been in custody for 15 months, should be released immediately.

Treason and attempted genocide charges were also dropped against the remaining defendants — other opposition leaders and two aid workers — but they still face four charges that include attempting to overthrow the government, which carries life imprisonment or the death penalty.

The opposition leaders have always claimed the trial is politically motivated and have refused to defend themselves or cooperate with the court.

Among those freed was a female reporter who gave birth while in prison and editors and owners of opposition newspapers in the African nation. One member of the Ethiopian Teachers Associated union was acquitted on Friday.

So far 62 people have been acquitted, while three opposition members were found guilty in absentia of attempting to overthrow the government. Some 66 people, including elected lawmakers and the mayor-elect of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, are still on trial.

The trial has been widely condemned by international human rights groups as an attempt to silence Ethiopian government critics.

It stems from the violence that erupted during protests over disputed elections that returned Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to power in May 2005.

The opposition, despite winning an unprecedented number of parliamentary seats, claimed the vote was rigged, and EU observers said the polls were marred by irregularities.

An independent Ethiopian investigation found 193 demonstrators and six policemen were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces that erupted after the vote, sparking a massive opposition crackdown.

Those who were released were not immediately available for comment.

The genocide charge was because the defendants are accused of targeting the Tigrayan ethnic group, from which the ruling party and Zenawi come. Tigrayans are from the north of the country and make up fewer than one in 10 of Ethiopia's 77 million people.

London-based human rights group Amnesty International has called the defendants "prisoners of conscience who have not used or advocated violence."

Zenawi has repeatedly stated that the opposition was trying to overthrow his government by force.

The case was adjourned April 30.