Ethiopia frees 38 jailed opposition figures
Afp, Addis Ababa
Ethiopia yesterday released 38 opposition figures, days after sparking an international outcry by slapping them with heavy jail terms over incidents that followed disputed 2005 polls. The group was pardoned by President Girma Woldegiorgis on Thursday and witnesses and relatives told AFP that they were released from their prison in Kaliti, 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the capital. "They have been freed and are heading to Addis," a witness said on condition of anonymity. On Monday, Ethiopia's high court had slapped heavy jail terms on 43 opposition figures accused of seeking to "overthrow constitutional rule" in the aftermath of disputed 2005 legislative polls.
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