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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Mengistu is handed life sentence | Mengistu is handed life sentence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Exiled former Ethiopian ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam has been sentenced to life in prison on genocide charges. | Exiled former Ethiopian ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam has been sentenced to life in prison on genocide charges. |
| The former leader was found guilty last month after a 12-year trial, although he is living in Zimbabwe. | The former leader was found guilty last month after a 12-year trial, although he is living in Zimbabwe. |
| After his conviction, Zimbabwe said it would not extradite him and many fear he will never face justice. | After his conviction, Zimbabwe said it would not extradite him and many fear he will never face justice. |
| In a notorious campaign - known as the Red Terror - thousands of suspected opponents were rounded up and executed and their bodies tossed on the streets. | In a notorious campaign - known as the Red Terror - thousands of suspected opponents were rounded up and executed and their bodies tossed on the streets. |
| Mengistu, who was born in 1937, could have faced the death penalty. | Mengistu, who was born in 1937, could have faced the death penalty. |
| He has refused to recognise the legal basis of the trial, accusing those who overthrew him of being mercenaries and colonisers. | He has refused to recognise the legal basis of the trial, accusing those who overthrew him of being mercenaries and colonisers. |
| Leniency | Leniency |
| Of the 73 people put on trial, 33 defendants were in court for sentencing. | Of the 73 people put on trial, 33 defendants were in court for sentencing. |
| Considering the age of the accused, the court has rejected the prosecution's call for the death penalty and passed life imprisonment Judges' statement | Considering the age of the accused, the court has rejected the prosecution's call for the death penalty and passed life imprisonment Judges' statement |
| Most of the defendants also got life in prison and four received a sentence of up to 25 years in prison. | Most of the defendants also got life in prison and four received a sentence of up to 25 years in prison. |
| The BBC's Amber Henshaw said there was little reaction in court from defendants, relatives or victims. | The BBC's Amber Henshaw said there was little reaction in court from defendants, relatives or victims. |
| She says many Ethiopians expected Mengistu and his closest officials to get the death sentence and it was clear the presiding judge wanted this. | She says many Ethiopians expected Mengistu and his closest officials to get the death sentence and it was clear the presiding judge wanted this. |
| But in the end the three judges decided on more lenient sentences. | |
| "Considering the age of the accused... and the state of their health... the court has rejected the prosecution's call for the death penalty and passed life imprisonment," the court said. | |
| Speaking outside the court one elderly member of the victims' committee said Mengistu should have got the death sentence. | Speaking outside the court one elderly member of the victims' committee said Mengistu should have got the death sentence. |
| He said the committee would be appealing against the decision. | He said the committee would be appealing against the decision. |
| Chief prosecutor Yosef Kiros said immediately after sentencing that they may appeal. | |
| Another relative called for Mengistu to be returned from Zimbabwe | Another relative called for Mengistu to be returned from Zimbabwe |
| Rule | Rule |
| Mengistu's Marxist rule began in 1974, when he and a group of officials known as the Dergue, overthrew Ethiopia's emperor, Haile Selassie. The emperor had failed to come to grips with a poor harvest, and the situation escalated into a devastating famine. | Mengistu's Marxist rule began in 1974, when he and a group of officials known as the Dergue, overthrew Ethiopia's emperor, Haile Selassie. The emperor had failed to come to grips with a poor harvest, and the situation escalated into a devastating famine. |
| MENGISTU HAILE MARIAM 1937: Born in Walayitta 1974: Emperor Haile Selassie overthrown1977-78: Thousands killed during Red Terror1994: Genocide trial in Ethiopia begins2006: Found guilty of genocide Profile: Mengistu Haile Mariam | MENGISTU HAILE MARIAM 1937: Born in Walayitta 1974: Emperor Haile Selassie overthrown1977-78: Thousands killed during Red Terror1994: Genocide trial in Ethiopia begins2006: Found guilty of genocide Profile: Mengistu Haile Mariam |
| Mengistu soon emerged as the leader, and in the confusion following the emperor's death the government became embroiled in bitter clashes with students and leftist rivals. | Mengistu soon emerged as the leader, and in the confusion following the emperor's death the government became embroiled in bitter clashes with students and leftist rivals. |
| Mengistu responded by brutally suppressing the unrest. | Mengistu responded by brutally suppressing the unrest. |
| Declaring Ethiopia a Socialist People's Republic, he turned to the Soviet Union, which backed him in fighting an invasion from Somalia. | Declaring Ethiopia a Socialist People's Republic, he turned to the Soviet Union, which backed him in fighting an invasion from Somalia. |
| But a war for independence in Eritrea rumbled on, and rebellion erupted in the province of Tigray. | But a war for independence in Eritrea rumbled on, and rebellion erupted in the province of Tigray. |
| Moscow re-armed the Ethiopian military, but it gradually crumbled until in 1991 the combined Eritrean and Tigrayan forces were on the outskirts of the capital, Addis Ababa. | Moscow re-armed the Ethiopian military, but it gradually crumbled until in 1991 the combined Eritrean and Tigrayan forces were on the outskirts of the capital, Addis Ababa. |
| Mengistu then fled to Zimbabwe, where his friend, President Robert Mugabe gave him sanctuary. | Mengistu then fled to Zimbabwe, where his friend, President Robert Mugabe gave him sanctuary. |