Charges dropped against 18 in poll-related cases

The Ethiopian High Court on Wednesday dropped charges against 18 defendants, including opposition politicians, journalists and human rights activists who had been accused of treason, attempted genocide and other offences. They were part of a group of 129 people - including 29 leaders of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party, 19 journalists and human-rights activists - on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the constitutionally installed government. The trial against the remaining 111 accused would continue. The charges stem from protests against the controversial parliamentary elections held in May 2005, in which Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front retained power. The opposition contested the results, claiming the elections were marred by massive vote rigging. Those whose cases were dropped include five Ethiopian journalists working for the Voice of America (VoA) journalists who were on trial in absentia. Chief prosecutor Shimelis Kemal said the decision to withdraw the charges was made after taking into consideration the defendants’ involvement in committing the offence and their ages. "We have decided to withdraw the charge today. But it can resume if it is found necessary to continue it," he said. Meanwhile, Ethiopian prosecutors have charged a new group of 151 people with incitement to violence and attempting to subvert the constitution, the country’s official news agency has reported. Thirty-three suspects in the new group were taken to federal court on Monday and charged with accepting and acting on a call by the CUD party to "dismantle the constitutional order through force," the Ethiopian News Agency quoted the prosecution as saying. Another group of 118 people was charged with the same offence on 17 March. The news agency did not give any details on the identity of the accused, which appeared mainly to be CUD leaders and members.