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| PM pardon for protest Ethiopians | PM pardon for protest Ethiopians |
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| Thirty Ethiopian opposition leaders sentenced to life in prison over election protests have been pardoned, the prime minister has announced. | Thirty Ethiopian opposition leaders sentenced to life in prison over election protests have been pardoned, the prime minister has announced. |
| Meles Zenawi said the pardon took immediate effect, meaning they should all be freed shortly. | Meles Zenawi said the pardon took immediate effect, meaning they should all be freed shortly. |
| The group always said the trial was political and refused to enter a plea, leading to the men's conviction. Five were found guilty of armed rebellion. | The group always said the trial was political and refused to enter a plea, leading to the men's conviction. Five were found guilty of armed rebellion. |
| Some donors have cut aid to Ethiopia, amid criticism of the trial. | Some donors have cut aid to Ethiopia, amid criticism of the trial. |
| In addition to the 30 Coalition for Unity and Democracy leaders jailed for life, Mr Meles also pardoned six young men and two journalists who were also given jail terms for their role in the protests over alleged poll rigging in the 2005 elections. | |
| Five others were convicted in absentia. | |
| Mr Meles also said their rights to vote and contest elections would be restored. | |
| The government had said the 30 had confessed to their crimes and had asked for a pardon. | |
| The head of the European Union 2005 election observers in Ethiopia had condemned the life sentences as "farcical" and "inhumane". | |
| After the state prosecutor called for the death penalty, the US urged the government to "promote reconciliation" in the final sentence. | |
| The government always said it could not interfere in the case until the legal process had finished. |