Ethiopian opposition leader under house arrest

[struggle4progress]

11 Jun 2005 13:36:37 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds three CUD officials under house arrest, paragraph 8)

By Tsegaye Tadesse

ADDIS ABABA, June 11 (Reuters) - Ethiopian opposition leader Hailu Shawel said on Saturday the government had put him and his family under house arrest, a day after it threatened to detain opposition leaders unless violence over elections stopped. <snip>

Witnesses said journalists who went to interview Hailu at home were roughed up and their cameras confiscated. But diplomats had been allowed to see the opposition leader.

Protests began on Monday, defying a ban ordered by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, after weeks of opposition allegations that the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EDRDF) intimidated voters and rigged elections last month.

Violence erupted on Wednesday when police and troops fired into crowds of protesters, killing at least 26 people. Since then security forces have rounded up youths and detained opposition members. <snip>

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L11420265.htm