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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| EU anger over Ethiopia expulsions | EU anger over Ethiopia expulsions |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The European Union has condemned the expulsion of two EU diplomats from Ethiopia as "totally unacceptable". | The European Union has condemned the expulsion of two EU diplomats from Ethiopia as "totally unacceptable". |
| The two were deported after being caught allegedly trying to smuggle two fugitives into Kenya. | The two were deported after being caught allegedly trying to smuggle two fugitives into Kenya. |
| These include an Ethiopian lawyer who worked for the European Commission. Ethiopia said they were arrested over "serious crimes" without specifying. | These include an Ethiopian lawyer who worked for the European Commission. Ethiopia said they were arrested over "serious crimes" without specifying. |
| The expulsions come at a time of strong international criticism of Ethiopia over last year's disputed elections. | The expulsions come at a time of strong international criticism of Ethiopia over last year's disputed elections. |
| The EU halted budgetary aid to Ethiopia in the wake of the poll and the wave of violence that followed it. | The EU halted budgetary aid to Ethiopia in the wake of the poll and the wave of violence that followed it. |
| Any international organisation operating in Ethiopia needs to respect the laws of the host country and face punishment if it violates the law Interior ministry | Any international organisation operating in Ethiopia needs to respect the laws of the host country and face punishment if it violates the law Interior ministry |
| Until the election violence, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had been seen as part of a "new generation" of African leaders. | Until the election violence, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had been seen as part of a "new generation" of African leaders. |
| The chief observer for the EU during the elections, Ana Gomes, on Thursday said a leaked report into an alleged "massacre" confirmed that the government did not respect human rights. | The chief observer for the EU during the elections, Ana Gomes, on Thursday said a leaked report into an alleged "massacre" confirmed that the government did not respect human rights. |
| 'Torture risk' | 'Torture risk' |
| An EC official, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC he was very concerned about lawyer Yalemzewd Bekele, following her arrest. | An EC official, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC he was very concerned about lawyer Yalemzewd Bekele, following her arrest. |
| Human rights group Amnesty International says she is at a high risk of being tortured. | Human rights group Amnesty International says she is at a high risk of being tortured. |
| The identity of the person arrested with the lawyer has not been revealed but they did not work for the EC, the official said. | The identity of the person arrested with the lawyer has not been revealed but they did not work for the EC, the official said. |
| Swedish diplomat Bjorn Jonsson and Italian EU official Enrico Sborgi were deported on Thursday night. | |
| The arrests were made after a car with diplomatic number plates was stopped near the southern border town of Moyale, Ethiopian officials say. | The arrests were made after a car with diplomatic number plates was stopped near the southern border town of Moyale, Ethiopian officials say. |
| Amnesty says it believes Ms Yalemzewd was arrested in connection with the publication and distribution of a calendar of action for non-violent civil disobedience by the opposition party Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD). | Amnesty says it believes Ms Yalemzewd was arrested in connection with the publication and distribution of a calendar of action for non-violent civil disobedience by the opposition party Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD). |
| CUD was in the forefront of protests over last May's elections, saying it was cheated of victory. | CUD was in the forefront of protests over last May's elections, saying it was cheated of victory. |
| Several CUD leaders are on trial on a number of charges, including one of trying to overthrow the government. | Several CUD leaders are on trial on a number of charges, including one of trying to overthrow the government. |
| Almost 200 people were killed when the police put down the protests, a leaked report said this week. | Almost 200 people were killed when the police put down the protests, a leaked report said this week. |
| 'Repercussions' | 'Repercussions' |
| Development Commissioner Louis Michel said he had called Ethiopia's envoy in Brussels for an explanation. | Development Commissioner Louis Michel said he had called Ethiopia's envoy in Brussels for an explanation. |
| "There will be repercussions," he said. | "There will be repercussions," he said. |
| He also said he had been trying since Thursday to contact Mr Meles about the incident, without success. | He also said he had been trying since Thursday to contact Mr Meles about the incident, without success. |
| "Usually I can make contact quite easily with Prime Minister Meles," he said. | "Usually I can make contact quite easily with Prime Minister Meles," he said. |
| A statement from Ethiopia's interior ministry said the attempt to take the Ethiopians out of the country "violates the sovereignty of the country while jeopardising the security of the nation". | A statement from Ethiopia's interior ministry said the attempt to take the Ethiopians out of the country "violates the sovereignty of the country while jeopardising the security of the nation". |
| "Any international organisation operating in Ethiopia needs to respect the laws of the host country and face punishment if it violates the law," the statement added. | "Any international organisation operating in Ethiopia needs to respect the laws of the host country and face punishment if it violates the law," the statement added. |