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| Africa Horn |
| Ethiopia convicts 13 over coup plot |
| 2009-08-08 |
| A US-based university professor is among 13 men convicted in absentia by Ethiopia for plotting to overthrow the government, the state news agency said on Friday. Berhanu Nega, who is Ethiopian-born with US nationality and teaches economics at Philadelphia's Bucknell University, was accused of masterminding a plan to topple Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The Ethiopian News Agency said the Federal High Court had issued the guilty verdicts late on Thursday. Government officials did not immediately comment. The 13 are mostly based in the United States and Britain. Another 32 men in Ethiopia - mainly former and current army personnel, including two generals - have been charged. Three have been bailed and 29 are in custody. The prosecution has presented its case and the defence will begin on August 26, relatives told Reuters. Addis Ababa says the group had planned to kill senior government ministers and blow up power and telecommunications facilities to provoke protesters who would then march on government buildings and try to topple the government. The arrests have worried rights groups, who say the Ethiopian government has become increasingly authoritarian. |
| Posted by:Fred |