Tensions on the Rise in Horn of Africa (npr.org, 12/31/05) "Weekend Edition - Saturday, December 31, 2005 · The International Crisis Group is warning that war is again likely between Ethiopia and Eritrea, just five years after a conflict between the two African nations killed tens of thousands of people. Matt Bryden, ICG director in the region, tells Linda Wertheimer why the group is concerned." Listen to Bryden Interview.

Arrests Ahead of Ethiopian Poll (bbc.co.uk, 5/14/05) "Election observers have been arrested across Ethiopia on the eve of Sunday's poll, opposition members say. They told a gathering in the capital, Addis Ababa, that more than 100 monitors remained in police custody. One candidate is also being held. The Ethiopian Human Rights Council also rejected assessments that the election was largely peaceful so far."

HIM Haile Selassie I just before he was killed by the Derg in 1975. AP photo

Mamo Haile the Emperor's trust servant . AP photo

The Last of the Ethiopian Emperors (bbc.co.uk, 05/12/05) "Thirty years ago, Haile Selassie, Ethiopia's last emperor died after a rule of 45 years. Daniel Dickinson travels to Addis Ababa to visit the emperor's former palace and meets one of his servants." "...According to his faithful servant, Haile Selassie at first knew nothing of the famine. "The emperor was shocked and deeply saddened. I went with him to Wollo. He had no idea his people were suffering like this," he said." ""I would be more than happy to see him back in his palace," was what he told me."

'Unfair Poll' in Ethiopia Oromia Region (bbc.co.uk, 5/10/05) Says Human Rights Watch

1.2 million support opposition parties chanting "Meles is a thief" Photo by WIC 5/8/05 The CUD puts the number at 3 million

EU Concern Over Ethiopia Election (bbc.co.uk, 5/9/05) "European Union election observers have written to Ethiopia's ruling party, voicing their concerns ahead of next Sunday's general elections. They are worried by the intimidation of opposition officials and a campaign of hate speech, they say. However, they have also praised the relative lack of violence so far."

ETHIOPIA: Halt in Budget Support Will Affect the Poor, Minister Says (irinnews.org, 12/30/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 30 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - Ethiopia’s finance minister, Sufyan Ahmed, has said that the poor in his country would suffer if aid donors carried out their plan to withhold US $375 million in budget support because of the government's recent crackdown on opposition supporters. Sufyan said on Friday the donors' decision to shift that money to [programmes] in the country would delay implementation of the government's poverty alleviation projects. "We feel this is an unacceptable decision, but it is their prerogative," he added." EDITORIAL NOTE: This Woyane cadre told the BBC yesterday that the cut "would have little effect on the overall budget." Today he wants to change the tune and preach about how the whole world is misunderstanding about the massacre in Ethiopia. No doubt that he and Zenawi will miss the funds that used to be handed to them to spend as they see fit. Donors MUST demand transparency and accountability. (fettan.com, 12/30/05) 

Ethiopia Blasts Donors For Plans to Withhold Aid Following Crackdown (voanews.com 12/30/05) "Western donors are set to withhold aid from Ethiopia over the government's crackdown on the opposition and press, following elections earlier this year. The government says it has acted in accordance with the law. Media reports indicate that the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Kingdom are among donors planning to withhold $375 million in direct budgetary support to the Ethiopian government. Donor officials are quoted as saying the money would instead be allocated to programs run by the United Nations and aid groups to fight poverty." Majtenyi report - Download 280k Listen to Majtenyi report

Donors To Withhold Aid From Ethiopia (today.reuters.co.uk, 12/29/05) "LONDON (Reuters) - Western donors plan to withhold $375 million (218 million pounds) in aid from Ethiopia over the government's recent crackdown on opposition supporters, The Financial Times reported on Thursday. "We are very concerned and have taken principled positions, along with our development partners, on the recent disturbances," Ishac Diwan, the World Bank's country director, was quoted by the FT as saying. The $375 million involved is direct budgetary support. Diwan said until the situation improves the World Bank, the European Union and Britain will look to disburse the funds in other ways to meet Ethiopia's humanitarian needs. "Because of the situation, trust has broken down so we are trying to find other ways of doing it," the FT quoted another western development official as saying." RELATED STORIES: Ethiopia Threatened With Aid Cuts (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/29/05) Donors to Withdraw Aid From Ethiopian Government (cnn.com, 12/29/05)

Languishing in an Addis Embassy (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/28/05) "In the hills to the north-east, the vast, residential compound can be found at the end of a stony track, surrounded by woods filled with eucalyptus trees. It seems almost idyllic, but it is not a place in which to spend 15 years. On the night of 27 May, 1991, four members of the Dergue, the murderous regime of the Marxist dictator Col Mengistu Haile Mariam, slipped into the Italian embassy under the cover of darkness, and sought political asylum."

Kenya Investigating Claims of Kidnapping By Ethiopia Agents (voanews.com, 12/28/05) "Kenyan police are investigating allegations that Ethiopian government agents are kidnapping and harassing Ethiopian refugees of Oromo-origin living in Kenya, a charge the Ethiopian government denies. An official with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Rosella Pagliuchi, tells VOA that the nervousness many Ethiopian refugees living in Kenya feel is a big problem." Listen to Majtenyi report

JEWISH CELEBRATION    Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin watches Rabbi Simcha Zirkind light the candles on a menorah Tuesday while visiting a rabbinic college in Montreal, Quebec. AP Photo (Courtesy cnn.com 12/28/05)

Rabbi Joshua Metzger of the Chabad Lubavitch of Midtown, his wife, Brocha, and their children, Menachem Mendel, 4, and Sarah Perel, 6, stand by a menorah after lighting the candles on the first night of Hanukkah, Sunday, in New York. AP Photo (courtesy cnn.com 12/28/05)

Rabbi Reuven Yasu Photo: Matthew Wagner PMO Orders Equality for Ethiopian Rabbis (jpost.com, 12/27/05) "The Prime Minister's Office ordered religious councils Monday to stop what it called "apparent discrimination" against Ethiopian rabbis and kessim (traditional Ethiopian spiritual leaders)."

Ethiopia Opposition Makes No Plea In Treason Case (reuters.com, 12/28/05) "ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopian opposition members charged with treason, inciting violence and planning to commit genocide refused to enter pleas on Wednesday, complaining they had not been allowed to consult their lawyers. "The prison administration has denied us access to our lawyers to discuss the gravity of the charges," Hailu Shawel, chairman of the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), told the court. "I have nothing to say." Federal Court Judge Adil Ahmed had repeatedly asked the defendants if they understood the charges against them."

ETHIOPIA: 129 Opposition Activists Remanded In Custody (irinnews.org, 12/28/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 28 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - A Federal High Court judge remanded 129 opposition leaders, journalists, civil society members and a 15-year-old boy into custody on Wednesday, pending a ruling on their bail applications for charges ranging from treason to genocide."

Ethiopian Refugees Protest "Kidnapping" of 25 Oromos in Kenya (sudantribune.com, 12/28/05) "Dec 26, 2005 (NAIROBI) — Close to 1,000 Ethiopian refugees are camped at the offices of UN High Commission for Refugees in Westlands - Nairobi - protesting against the kidnapping of 25 of their members. The refugees, all of Oromo origin, claim that the Ethiopian government has sent spies among their midst and is scheming to repatriate them back to Ethiopia. But Ethiopian Ambassador Murad Musa blames the kidnapping on the Oromo Liberation Front militant group, some of whom are said to be operating in this country."

ON THE BRINK: A man from the hotly disputed border town of Badme poses with his sheep in front of a tank abandoned during the 1998-2000 war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Photo- ED HARRIS/REUTERS Speaking of Predictable Behavior here is what we at fettan.com predicted about  Zenawi's behavior in April 2005 - before the May elections

Africa Wary of New Border War: Eritrea and Ethiopia could face UN sanctions if they don't take steps to avert war (csmonitor.com, 12/27/05) "ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – On the surface, the reasons for rising tensions between the African nation of Ethiopia and its tiny neighbor, Eritrea, may seem trivial. The two are on the verge of restarting the bloodiest interstate war in Africa in recent memory, ostensibly over a border town called Badme - a desert outpost with just 5,000 people. But dig deeper into the precarious internal situation both regimes face, as well as the region's interlaced alliances, and it's clear the dangers of a reignited war are great for the region." EDITORIAL COMMENT: The Harvard University professor and the African experts are echoing the same contorted reasoning that has been continuously churned out by Secretary Rice first through the NSA and now the Department of State. That is, "What the region is looking for - and needs - is a power that guarantees stability through predictable behavior," says Bryden. This stability is what Ethiopia has sought to provide, and is the reason donor countries have been reluctant to press the government too hard."     Read Full Editorial Comment (fettan.com, 12/27/05)

China Scooping Up Deals in Africa As US Firms Hesitate (redorbit.com, 12/27/05) "Dec. 24--LUANDA, Angola -- China's growing demand for energy sources and profitable construction deals is leading the world's most populous country increasingly to swoop into Africa, where it has found abundant raw materials, governments desperate for outside investments, and relatively little competition from American firms. The Chinese, sensing Africa's tremendous potential upside, are making strategic economic inroads into a continent that, outside of oil investments, has long been written off by most Western companies as too risky because of poor governance or threat of conflict. US companies, in particular, have been caught flat-footed by the Chinese financial strikes, according to American and other experts on Africa's economic potential." "....Games, the South African analyst, said that the Chinese interests sometimes conflict with American policy in Africa. One prominent example was an estimated $1 billion in Chinese arms sales to both Ethiopia and Eritrea from 1998 to 2000, which helped fuel deadly border fighting that killed tens of thousands of combatants."

There is a gap between Western perceptions and African realities. Tony Blair blindly embracing African dictators  Getty Images

Uganda Highlights African Dilemmas (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/25/05) "Britain has decided to suspend its aid to Uganda - some £15m ($26m) worth - amid growing concerns about the rule of President Museveni. But has this decision come too late? "...Political leaders in the West, and many in the media, have been so desperate to believe in a new Africa, so desperate they have fallen for every leader who has talked the language of pluralism and respect for human rights. They especially liked these men if they followed World Bank and IMF prescribed solutions to their country's economic problems. They were - from Mugabe in the early 1980s to President Museveni and the prime minister of Ethiopia [Meles Zenawi] now - the kind of people one could do business with.

Photos From "Evicted and Forsaken: Internally Displaced persons in the Aftermath of Operation Murambatsvina" in Zimbabwe (hrw.org, 11/05) "In May 2005, the Zimbabwean government's program of forced evictions and demolitions, known us Operation Murambatsvina ("Clear the filth"), left an estimated 700,000 people homeless, and led to a massive humanitarian crisis." "...The photographs were taken by Human Rights Watch researches during their mission to Zimbabwe in September-October 2005. EDITORIAL NOTE: Here is another (in addition to 'Meles Zenawi's democracy' in Ethiopia) proof positive that a British Commonwealth (Tony Blair) inspired 'socialist democracy' is thriving in Africa.

Ethiopia And Eritrea Fail To Ease Border Tension (guardian.co.uk, 12/24/05) "Ethiopia and Eritrea have failed to comply with a UN security council resolution to ease tensions over their disputed border, Azouz Ennifar, deputy head of the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, said yesterday. The November 23 resolution gave both countries 30 days within which Ethiopia was supposed to begin work to demarcate its border after a decision by an independent commission; Eritrea was to lift restrictions on the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea; and both countries were to pull back troops to December 2004 levels."

Ethiopia Troops Leave Tense Border (cnn.com, 12/23/05) "ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Reuters) -- Ethiopian troops began moving back from the tense border with Eritrea as a United Nations deadline for both sides to pull soldiers back by midnight on Friday drew near, a U.N. source said. The U.N. Security Council set the deadline in November, when it ordered the Horn of Africa neighbors to reduce troop levels at the frontier, scene of a 1998-2000 border war that killed 70,000, and threatened economic sanctions if they did not obey."

Horn Border Tense Before Deadline (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/23/05) "United Nations peacekeepers say Eritrea and Ethiopia are behind schedule in pulling back troops from their tense border, ahead of a UN deadline. The UN Security Council has set a deadline of Friday night for both countries to withdraw their troops to the positions they occupied a year ago. Tensions over the border have risen in recent months with both countries sending more troops there." RELATED STORIES: ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Border Tense Despite Troop Pullouts, Says UN (irinnews.org, 12/23/05) Eritrea, Ethiopia 'On Verge' Of War (abc.net.au, 12/23/05)

Journalist Watchdog Groups Meets With Ethiopian Ambassador (voanews.com, 12/23/05) "The Committee to Protect Journalists yesterday sent a delegation to Washington, DC, to meet with Ethiopia’s ambassador to the United States. The CPJ says it is outraged at the jailing of at least 16 journalists in Ethiopia and the reported filing of criminal charges against them, as well as against five VOA broadcasters here in Washington, DC.  Julia Crawford, CPJ’s African program coordinator, was a member of the delegation to the Ethiopian Embassy. In Washington, she spoke to English to Africa reporter Joe De Capua about the reasons for the meeting." De Capua interview with CPJ mp3 De Capua interview with CPJ ra

Ethiopians Face Anti-state Charges; VOA Staffers Among Those Named (cpj.org, 12/21/05) "New York, December 21, 2005—Twenty-one Ethiopian journalists and the president of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association were charged today with involvement in an alleged attempt to overthrow the government, according to CPJ sources. Among those charged were five journalists of Ethiopian descent who work in Washington, D.C., for the Voice of America's Amharic-language service, according to a CPJ source present at today's hearing. The five were charged in absentia."

Ethiopia And Eritrea: Preventing War: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS (crisisgroup.org, 12/22/05) "Africa Report N°10, 22 December 2005. The fragile peace maintained by Ethiopia and Eritrea since they signed a comprehensive agreement at Algiers in December 2000 is fraying dangerously. With a costly two-year war now followed by nearly five years of stalemate, patience on both sides of the border has worn thin, and there are worrying signs that the countdown to renewed conflict may have begun. Neither side appears eager for war, but to dismiss the tensions as mere sabre-rattling could mean missing the last chance to preserve peace in the Horn of Africa. The two parties need help urgently from the Algiers Group – the African Union (AU), European Union (EU), UN and U.S. – who witnessed the original accords. Its members need to work together urgently to forge a “3-Ds” parallel process of de-escalation, border demarcation and bilateral dialogue, using both intensive diplomacy and the credible threat (and employment as necessary) of punitive measures."

ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: Commission Rules On Border War Claims (irinnews.org, 12/22/03) "ADDIS ABABA, 22 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - Eritrea triggered a two-year war with Ethiopia and violated international law when it invaded its [neighbour] in May 1998, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission (EECC) has ruled. Even though Eritrea has been blamed for starting the conflict, however, both countries are likely to receive compensation for breaches of international law during the fighting, which claimed the lives of 70,000 and cost each country - two of the world's poorest - US $1 million a day." 

This file picture taken in June 1998 shows the arrival of 700 Eritreans repatriated by bus from Ethiopia to Om Hager at the border of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Ethiopia and Eritrea's mutual claims of wrongdoing by the other were shown up when an international panel formed to resolve disputes between them said Eritrea violated international law when it invaded the north of Ethiopia in May 1998.(AFP/File/Amr Nabil) Read the full text on the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague (pca-cpa.org, 12/19/05) EDITORIAL NOTE: Now that one of the mosaic of peoples that Meles helped self-determine came back to steal and plunder Ethiopia, the Marxist Leninists book worm thieves of the MLLT have to figure out how to compensate the Ethiopian people for the loss! The answer is - kleptocracy- Keep on hutching more self-determined thieves to exterminate "reactionaries." Then Adwa and Jijiga will turn into heavens on Earth under the Constitutional Order. Tony Blair will be the Arch Angel!

Eritrea Broke Law In Border War (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/21/05) "Eritrea triggered the border war with Ethiopia when it attacked its [neighbour] in May 1998, an international commission in the Hague has ruled. Since there was no armed attack against Eritrea, its attack on Ethiopia could not be justified as lawful [self-defence] under the United Nations charter. Eritrea is now liable to compensate Ethiopia for damages caused, it said." RELATED STORIES: Eritrea violated international law with 1998 attack on Ethiopia (news.yahoo.com -AFP- 12/21/05)  Ruling: Eritrea Broke international law In Ethiopia Attack (cnn.com -Reuters- 12/21/05) International Body Rules Eritrea Responsible For Starting Border War With Ethiopia (voanews.com, 12/21/05) listen to interview with James Paul of Global Policy Forum

RIGHTS-ETHIOPIA: Europarliamentarians Urge Action (ipsnews.net, 12/20/05) "BRUSSELS, Dec 20 (IPS) - European parliamentarians are calling for ''targeted sanctions" against the Ethiopian government unless the current human rights situation in the country improves significantly. Members of the European Parliament are urging the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (EU), and the European Council, made up of European heads of government and state, to consider imposing targeted sanctions against members of the Ethiopian government following the recent political violence that has gripped the country. 
In a landmark 15-point resolution passed unanimously in Brussels last week (Dec.16), EU lawmakers called for ''the immediate establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry, under UN responsibility, to investigate the human rights abuses and to identify and bring to justice those responsible"."

UN Establishes New Body To Prevent Countries From Sliding Back Into War (un.org, 12/20/05) "20 December 2005 – In an historic action that brings to fruition a central reform proposed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the 2005 World Summit, the Security Council and the General Assembly today acted in concert to establish a new body that aims to prevent countries emerging from conflict from falling back into chaos."

UK Cuts Uganda Aid In Poll Fears (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/20/05) "Britain is to cut the amount of direct aid it gives to Uganda by £15m because of concerns about the country's slow progress to democracy. The money will be diverted to aid agencies in the conflict zone of north Uganda, International Development Secretary, Hilary Benn said. A further £4m is being held back pending the conduct of presidential elections due in February next year."  EDITORIAL NOTE: The British government is engaging in duplicitous behavior by spanking the Musevini regime before the dictator runs elections, while sparing the rod when it comes to Tony Blair's buddy, Meles Zenawi, after Zenawi stole the election;  killed thousands; and is currently setting up for execution the entire leadership of the opposition (based on concocted facts taken out of Mao's Red Book) and cleansing Ethiopia of citizens who rejected the MLLT/EPRDF brutal regime during the May 2005 polls. (fettan.com, 12/20/05)

Meles Has Not Learned a Lesson: Read his latest Marxist diatribe and get a glimpse into the psyche of a blood thirsty tyrant and ponder the challenges that await the Ethiopian people to win their freedom and establish democracy. (source: waltainfo.com, 12/17/05)  "Whether push might come to shove or not, the incumbent and the EPRDF have to defend, without compromise, the Constitution against die hard reactionaries, their anti-thesis. They have to safeguard the inviolable rights of its mosaic people where the right of self-determination, including secession figure prominently. This unequivocal position of a sovereign country that does not have to look up to others is what some termed as the ‘ugly’ reality in and around the events that surrounded the May-2005 election."

IMF Decides Wednesday Debt Cancellation Fate For Six Countries (voanews.com, 12/20/05) "Wednesday, the International Monetary Fund may decide to drop as many as six countries from the list of those promised debt cancellation by the G8 leaders, head of the world's richest countries. Last July, at the G8 summit in Scotland, it was announced that 18 of the world’s poorest countries would have their debts forgiven. Now there’s word the IMF could eliminate any or all of the following: Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Senegal, Rwanda and Nicaragua. The IMF says it has no comment on the reports." Listen to De Capua interview with Jubilee Network mp3

In The End, A Painful Choice (washingtonpost.com, 12/20/05) "....Long sanguine about Yemen, Burrowes has become so pessimistic about its future because of corruption that instead of describing Yemen as a democracy, as he used to do to the point of being considered an apologist for Saleh, he now calls it a "kleptocracy -- a government of, by and for thieves." As for the kind of leader Saleh has grown into, Burrowes said, "He has become a very good dictator." "...M'Fareh went on about the tribes, and then said of Saleh's government, "They live on divide and rule. When they see us having relations with internationals, it makes them very angry." "...But on the far side of such rhetoric was its reality: a teetering program in a teetering place where the question of democracy's meaning turned out to be a decision about whom to ignore. A president who is vital to the U.S. war on terrorism? Or a sheik who represents a country's most-forgotten people and was now saying so earnestly as to be heartbreaking, "We are citizens. We are Yemenis. The problem is they don't want to reach out to us because we will speak openly about all of the problems. And they don't want that to happen." EDITORIAL NOTE: A must read story about Meles Zenawi's big brother. (fettan.com, 12/20/05)

ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: EU Envoy Urges Rethink On UNMEE Restrictions (irinnews.org, 12/19/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 19 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - A European Union envoy has urged the international community to continue to press for the easing of tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea in order to avert a new war in the Horn of Africa. 
David Triesman, the British minister responsible for African affairs, who visited Ethiopia on behalf of the EU presidency on Saturday, told reporters in Addis Ababa it was important to defuse the situation. "The decision to order the removal of some detachments of the UNMEE [United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea] forces, the decision to prevent helicopter flights by UNMEE forces, raises tension," he said at the end of a one-day visit to Ethiopia." RELATED STORY: British Minister Assails Eritrea Over Border (sudantribune.com, 12/18/05)

World Court Rules Against Uganda (newsday.com, 12/19/05) "THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- The International Court of Justice on Monday held Uganda responsible for the killing, torture and cruel treatment of civilians in Congo in the late 1990s and ordered reparations. The court, the U.N.'s highest judicial body also known as the world court, dismissed Uganda's claims of self defense and called its actions an "unlawful military intervention" and interference in Congo's internal affairs."

Peace Failure Led To Expulsion, Eritrea Says (int.iol.co.za, 12/19/05) "Asmara - Eritrea expelled Westerners in a United Nations peace force out of frustration that a five-year-old peace accord with Ethiopia had not been implemented, official websites said in the authorities' first public explanation of the move. Last week, roughly 200 mostly Western peacekeepers left the Red Sea state after Eritrea ordered the departure of UN personnel from the United States, Canada, and Europe."

A losing Bet In Ethiopia (latimes.com, 12/18/05) "By Mike Clough, Michael Clough has worked on U.S. Africa policy for nearly three decades. Most recently, he was the Africa advocacy director for Human Rights Watch. ETHIOPIA IS edging toward renewed conflict with Eritrea that could result in tens of thousands of deaths and spark a civil war that would claim many more lives. But the Bush administration, a strong supporter of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, appears to have neither the vision nor the will to avert catastrophe. It would not be the first time Africans died because U.S. policymakers failed to recognize the dangers of backing a ruthless, doomed regime."

UK Concerned At Ethiopia Violence (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/18/05) "Britain says it is concerned by the recent political violence that has gripped Ethiopia. After meeting Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, UK Foreign Office Minister David Triesman said Ethiopia's reputation had suffered. His visit came as 131 detained opposition leaders, reporters and aid workers were charged with crimes ranging from treason to "genocide." The charges relate to last month's protests over disputed May elections."

Treason Charges Filed In Ethiopia (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/17/05) "Prosecutors in Ethiopia have charged 131 jailed opposition leaders, reporters and aid workers with crimes ranging from high treason to genocide. The charges relate to last month's protests over disputed May elections that saw at least 46 people killed. Under Ethiopian law, some of the crimes carry death penalty."

Ethiopian Court Charges 131 With Treason, Genocide (sudantribune.com, 12/16/05) "Dec 16, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Over 100 Ethiopian opposition leaders and other people were charged Friday with treason, genocide and other offenses, a judge said. The court will hear bail applications Wednesday from the 131 opponents of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, including journalists, trade unionists and others, Judge Adil Ahmed added. Some of the accused have been in prison since Nov. 1, when the government began a crackdown on independent media, opposition politicians and human rights activists after May 15 protests over disputed 15 elections that saw at least 46 people killed. In similar protests in June 42 people died. The protests began after the main opposition parties accused authorities of rigging the polls that returned the ruling party to power."

HORN OF AFRICA: UNMEE Monitoring Tense Border Despite Setbacks (irinnews.org, 12/16/05) "ADDIS ABABA/ASMARA, 16 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) is continuing to monitor the tense border between the two countries despite restrictions on operations and the expulsion of some of its staff, a UN official said. "The ban imposed by the Eritrean government on UNMEE helicopters is still in place [and] restrictions are continuing on the movement of UNMEE patrols," Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told reporters on Thursday."

UN Completes Western Staff Exit From Eritrea (today.reuters.com, 12/16/05) "ASMARA (Reuters) - The United Nations completed the withdrawal of 180 of its Western staff from Eritrea on Friday, the deadline the Red Sea state set for expelling the peacekeepers monitoring its tense border with Ethiopia. "The last two people left on the normal passenger flight this morning," said Gail Bindley-Taylor-Sainte, spokeswoman for the U.N. Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE). "We are now shipping out the cargo." The world body has since Thursday been temporarily relocating its American, Canadian and European staff to Ethiopia after Eritrea ordered them out last week."

UK Aid Workers 'Held In Ethiopia' (cnn.com, 12/.16/05) "LONDON, England (Reuters) -- British development charity ActionAid said Friday two of its workers had been arrested without charge in Ethiopia, and demanded their prompt release. The charity, which works in Africa, Asia and Latin America, said Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demessie, were among a number of activists held last month but never charged with any offence."

Europian Parliament Condemns Human Rights In Ethiopia, Tibet and Hong Kong, and Russia : MEPs condemn violence in Ethiopia. (europarl.eu.int, 12/15/05) "MEPs voted in favour of three resolutions on the human rights situation in Tibet and Hong Kong, human rights issue in Russia and the new NGO legislation and the situation in Ethiopia and the new border conflict. In adopting a joint resolution on the situation in Ethiopia with 93 votes in favour,  0 against and 1 abstention, MEPs condemn the violence, the use of disproportionate means of repression by the armed forces and the mass arrests.  The House calls on the Ethiopian Government to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and journalists and fulfill its obligations with respect to human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law."

VOA Amharic Program Debate Between a Tigrean-Ethiopian Democrat and a Mercenary MLLT/TPLF Cadre: Wolde Gebriel Abraha . Listen to this broadcast to get a glimpse into the minds of the paranoid Wolde Gabriel Abrahas and Abreham Yayehs and understand why they support the communist indoctrinations and brutality unleashed by Meles Zenawi.  Like wise hear the reasoned and truly Ethiopian patriotic voice of Dr. Gihdey Assefa. (Audio courtesy, VOA Radio,12/13/05)  

Horn Of Africa 'Crisis', UN Warns (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/15/05) "The head of United Nations peacekeepers has warned of a "crisis" in the Horn of Africa, as UN troops started to leave Eritrea after being ordered out. Almost 90 western troops are leaving Eritrea. Jean-Marie Guehenno said he had never experienced a similar situation in 10 years in the job. He has been in Eritrea since Monday in a bid to solve the problems but was not able to meet President Isaias Afewerki."

Peacekeepers Begin Eritrea Pullout (cnn.com, 12/15/05) "ASMARA, Eritrea (Reuters) -- Western peacekeepers began leaving Eritrea on Thursday after the United Nations agreed to pull out Americans, Canadians and Europeans from its mission set up to prevent war with Ethiopia. The U.N. Security Council said in a statement Wednesday the world body would "temporarily relocate" military and civilian staff from Eritrea to Ethiopia in the interests of safety." RELATED STORY: HORN OF AFRICA: UN Relocates Expelled Staff From Eritrea To Ethiopia (irinnews.org, 12/15/05)

Standoff Between UN And Eritrea (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/14/05) "UN envoy Jean-Marie Guehenno has prolonged his visit to Eritrea in an apparent attempt to meet the government about tensions on the Ethiopian border. Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki has so far refused to meet Mr Guehenno, the head of UN peacekeeping operations. Mr Guehenno is trying to reverse an Eritrean order for 180 Western peacekeepers to leave by Friday." RELATED STORIES: ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Visiting UN Officials Delay Departure From Asmara (irinnews.org, 12/14/05) U.N. To Pull Western Peacekeepers From Eritrea (cnn.com -Reuters- 12/14/05)

China, Cuba, Eritrea and Ethiopia Lead in Jailing Journalists (voanews.com, 12/13/05) "A journalism watchdog group says China currently has more imprisoned journalists than any other country, but the United States is also on the organization's list of abusers. A new report by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says China, Cuba, Eritrea and Ethiopia account for two-thirds of the 125 imprisoned editors, writers and photojournalists around the world as of December first. Fifth on the list was the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan, followed at number six by the United States, which has moved up on the list due to journalists it is holding in Iraq and at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Tied for sixth place is Burma."

ETHIOPIA: Media Watchdog Condemns Arrest Of Two More Journalists (irinnews.org, 12/13/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 13 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - Two journalists have been jailed in Ethiopia, bringing the total number imprisoned following a post election crackdown by the government to 15, a media watchdog said on Tuesday. Getachew Simie, former editor-in-chief of the defunct Amharic-language weekly Agere, was jailed for three months while Leykun Engeda, former editor-in-chief and publisher of the Amharic-language weekly Dagim Wonchif was jailed for 15 months, said the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Both were jailed for articles published up to seven years ago, the New York-based watchdog said. "It is scandalous that Ethiopian authorities have persisted in using outdated and illegitimate charges to send these journalists to jail," said Ann Cooper, executive director of CPJ. "We call on authorities to release our Ethiopian colleagues immediately, and to work towards removing criminal penalties for press offences."

London demonstration 12/09/05  Photo courtesy andenet.com

REPORT ON GREAT LONDON MARCH (andenet.com, 12/11/05) "Ethiopians started arriving at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton Airports as well as various metropolitan train stations throughout London on Saturday 8th December 2005. The majority booked their accommodations online and managed their way without interventions of Londoners. Ethiopians pulling luggage were spotted everywhere throughout the city. London resident Ethiopians hosted the few who could not manage to accommodate themselves. The Saturday atmosphere of the city of London felt like Addis on the eve of big festival. Ethiopians flocked to London from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium and even as far as from Australia to participate on the Great London March."

UN Warns Against Complacency Over Ethiopia-Eritrea War Fears (news.yahoo.com -AFP- 12/12/05) "ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - The United Nations said it feared a "miscalculation" by either side could spark a new war between arch-rivals Ethiopia and Eritrea as it welcomed an Ethiopian decision to pull back troops from the increasingly tense border. "We believe that there is always a risk of war by miscalculation," said Jean-Marie Guehenno, the head of UN peacekeeping operations. "Nobody should be complacent in the present situation."

ETHIOPIA: Gov't to Pull Back Troops From Tense Border (irinnews.org, 12/12/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 12 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - Ethiopia will pull back troops from its tense border with Eritrea to comply with a United Nations order to avert fresh conflict in the Horn of Africa, the Ethiopian foreign minister said. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Seyoum Mesfin said Ethiopia was ready to reduce its troops to December 2004 levels to help ease tension."

ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: Ease Border Tension, Top UN Official Urges (irinnews.org, 12/12/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 12 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - Ethiopia and Eritrea must take concrete actions to ease tensions along their shared frontier given continuing fears that war could break out afresh between the two countries, a top United Nations official said on Monday. A miscalculation could lead to further bloodshed, the UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno, said in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa."

Number of Ethiopian, Eritrean Refugees Entering Sudan Rises (sudantribune.com, 12/11/05) "Dec 11, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The refugee commissioner, Mohamed Ahmad al-Aghbash, has said that the number of Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees streaming into the country had increased. In the last period, the number had increased from five to ten refugees a day to thirty refugees a day, the Sudanese official said." RELATED STORY: Sudanese - Ethiopian Ministerial Committees To Meet 14 December (sudantribune.com, 12/12/05)

Psychiatry Ponders Whether Extreme Bias Can Be An Illness (washingtonpost.com, 12/10/05) "The 48-year-old man turned down a job because he feared that a co-worker would be gay. He was upset that gay culture was becoming mainstream and blamed most of his personal, professional and emotional problems on the gay and lesbian movement. These fixations preoccupied him every day. Articles in magazines about gays made him agitated. He confessed that his fears had left him socially isolated and unemployed for years: A recovering alcoholic, the man even avoided 12-step meetings out of fear he might encounter a gay person." EDITORIAL NOTE: Read this article to learn about the pathological disorders that conflict Shaibia and Woyane ethnic supremacists and what drives them to round up more than 100,000 Ethiopian youth for brainwashing - just like they previously did in Eritrea and Tigray. (fettan.com, 12/10/05) RELATED STORIES:  Fighting Racism And Homophobia: CoR to host debate on protecting minorities, 12 December (europa.eu.int, 12/09/05) Aussie racial violence continues (today.reuters.co.uk, 12/13/05)

The border was the scene of a bloody trench war   AFP Photo

Ethiopia 'To Reduce' Border Force (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/10/05) "Ethiopia will move soldiers away from its border with Eritrea in compliance with a UN order aimed at averting fresh conflict, an Ethiopian official said. Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said the move was "in the interests of peace". Eritrea and Ethiopia have recently been massing troops along the UN-policed border they fought over five years ago." Ethiopian Foreign Minister [Mesfin] said on Saturday his country would redeploy troops away from the border as demanded by a UN resolution. "Though we have seen no encouraging signs from Eritrea... Ethiopia is convinced that its compliance with the [UN Security] Council's instruction is necessary even if doing so might have some risk for Ethiopia's security," he said. RELATED STORY: Ethiopia To Withdraw Troops From Eritrea Border (voanews.com, 12/10/05)

ETHIOPIA: Media Watchdog Condemns Conviction Of Journalist (alertnet.org -IRIN- 12/09/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 9 December (IRIN) - An international media watchdog has condemned the Ethiopian government's "disastrous crackdown" on the country's fledgling independent media after a detained journalist was sentenced to eight months in jail on Tuesday. "We are outraged at the prison sentence given to Wosonseged Gebrekidan, and at the continued imprisonment of at least 12 other journalists," said Ann Cooper, executive director of the New York-based Committee to Project Journalists (CPJ)."

ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Senior UN Officials to Assess Border Standoff (irinnews.org, 12/09/05) "NAIROBI, 9 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will send two senior UN officials to Eritrea and Ethiopia to assess the volatile border standoff following a decision by the Eritrean government to expel personnel from the UN peacekeeping mission there. A spokesman for the office of the Secretary-General in New York said on Thursday that Annan had asked the head of the UN peacekeeping department, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, and the UN military advisor, Gen Randir Kumar Mehta, to leave as soon as practicable for the Horn of Africa." RELATED STORY: Kofi Annan Dispatches Two Top Peacekeeping Officials To The Tense Ethio-Eritrean Border (voanews.com, 12/09/05)

Ex-Ethiopian Official Gets Death Sentence for 'Red Terror' Killings (cnn.com, 12/09/05) "ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- A leading member of Ethiopia's former military junta has been sentenced to death for his role in killing more than 900 people during Ethiopia's "Red Terror" of the late 1970s, state-owned radio reported Friday. Former governor Maj. Melaku Tefera was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity Thursday by the Federal High Court and sentenced the same day, Radio Ethiopia said." EDITORIAL NOTE: Another Zenawi plot to distract attention from the genocide he is committing NOW in Ethiopia.

ETHIOPIA: Main Opposition Party Calls for Dialogue (irinnews.org, 12/08/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 8 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - Ethiopia's main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), called on Wednesday for dialogue with the government as its detained leaders entered the 10th day of their hunger strike. Dialogue, the CUD said in a statement, was the only option for resolving their bitter dispute with the ruling party. Lawyers who visited the CUD members in prison on Wednesday said the detainees had lost a considerable amount of weight but were in good spirits. The leaders said they were in good health."

Geologists Witness 'Ocean Birth' (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/08/05) "Scientists say they have witnessed the possible birth of a future ocean basin growing in north-eastern Ethiopia. The team watched an 8m rift develop in the ground in just three weeks in the Afar desert region last September. It is one small step in a long-term split that is tearing the east of the country from the rest of Africa and should eventually create a huge sea."

Eritrean Move 'Cripples' UN Role (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/08/05) "Eritrea's decision to expel European and North American peacekeepers from its disputed border with Ethiopia may cripple operations, says the UN. Tuesday's move will affect 180 staff working in areas like supplies, transport, finance and communications, says mission deputy head Joel Adechi. Earlier the UN's Security Council said the order for troops to leave within 10 days was unacceptable. Mr Adechi said the move was unexpected and the consequences being reviewed." RELATED STORIES: U.N.: Eritrea Border Force Endangered (cnn.com, -AP- 12/08/05)  ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Staff Expulsion May Cripple Operations, Warns UNMEE (irinnews.org, 12/08/05) Eritrea Expels U.N. Peacekeepers, Increasing Tension With Ethiopia (nytimes.com, 12/08/05)

Reuters Photo: A Rwandan genocide survivor is seen in this February 2004 file picture looking out of a church full with human skulls and bones.

Nzabonimana, one of the architects of Rwanda genocide. Meles and cohorts will be held responsible for the genocide they committed in Eritrea and the rest of Ethiopia since 1991.

Tony Blair congratulates Meles Zenawi on a job well done in Ethiopia. So does Tim Clarke. Over 3,000 non-Eritrean/Tigrean Ethiopians have been massacred by Agazian troops since the May 15, 2005 defeat of Meles at the polls.

Court Convicts Rwanda Genocide Chief (today. reuters.com, 12/07/05) "DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - A U.N. court trying masterminds of Rwanda's genocide has convicted a former mayor for abetting the 1994 slaughter, but dropped three counts including genocide, the court said on Wednesday. Following a plea bargain, Paul Bisengimana, ex-mayor of Gikoro, will be convicted for murder and extermination as crimes against humanity. Judges in his trial dismissed three other charges including genocide and rape."

UN Demands Halt to Eritrea Order (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/07/05) "The United Nations Security Council has told Eritrea not to expel European and North American peacekeepers from its disputed border with Ethiopia. It said the order for the troops to leave within 10 days was unacceptable and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan added his voice to the condemnation."

Eritrea to Expel UN Peacekeepers (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/07/05) "Eritrea has expelled Canadian, Russian, European and United States peacekeepers from the United Nations mission monitoring the border with Ethiopia. The decision makes UN observation of the tense border almost impossible, says the BBC's Ed Harris in Asmara. In a letter to the UN mission, the Eritrean government gave staff of those nationalities 10 days to leave." RELATED STORIES: Eritrea Orders Western UN Troops Out - Diplomats (today.reuters.co.uk, 12/07/05)   Eritrea Expels Peacekeeping Staff (cnn.com -AP- 12/07/05)  Eritrean Crackdown on Religions (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/07/05)

US Official Says Democracy is Growing In Africa (voa.news.com, 12/06/05) "...On the political situation in Ethiopia, Ambassador Frazer says the United States believes pressure should be exerted on Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to allow for greater freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. “We’re continuing to hold the government accountable for allowing greater democratic space and respect for human rights. That said, I must say also that it’s the responsibility of the opposition as well because when the opposition takes stones and pelts the police forces, they have to respect the rule of law when they’re demonstrating freely.” EDITORIAL NOTE: Here is another example of US government equivocation. The ambassador has ruled that Hailu Shawel was responsible for stopping demonstrators from throwing stones. Having failed to so, the police had rights to shoot unarmed protesters and that Meles Zenawi has the right to charge CUD leaders with treason! Indeed American and British nurtured  democracy is growing in Ethiopia! (fettan.com, 12/06/05)

CUD President Hailu Shawel voting on May 15, 2005. He is incarcerated for daring to do so!

Jailed Besigye Set to Run in Poll (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/06/05) "Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been granted permission to sign his presidential nomination papers from prison by the attorney general. He is accused of treason and terrorism in civil and military courts. The government says it has the evidence to convict Dr Besigye but his lawyers say the trials are designed to prevent him from competing in polls next year."  EDITORIAL NOTE: Makes one wonder if Tony Blair will accomplish the same plot as Museveni. Keep on telling Zenawi to pretend that he has all the evidence (audio, video, testimonials and documents) to convince Hailu Shawel and associates of treason, and threaten them to sign an agreement to partake in the 2010 parliamentary elections and to take the seats that the NEBE claims "they won" in 2005. If Zenawi could pull off such a feat Tim Clarke must present Zenawi to the Queen for recognition as Grand Dragon Slayer of the British Empire- which qualifies Him as first in line to the throne barely edging out William. Sorry Tim, the Addis Marathon ploy turned into an anti-Meles demonstration. Keep on trying Timmy, but rest assured that you will not succeed in keeping the Ethiopian people from gaining their freedom! Democracy for Ethiopia NOW. (fettan.com, 12/06/05)

EU Wants Action Against Election Fraudsters (guardian.co.uk, 12/06/05) "The EU yesterday [criticised] elections in Kazakhstan at the weekend in which 91% of voters prolonged the rule of Nursultan Nazarbayev by seven years. The Foreign Office, speaking on behalf of the EU presidency, noted "with disappointment" the conclusion of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe that the vote did not meet international standards." EDITORIAL NOTE: Here is another confirmation for European duplicity. The EU high commissioner and British representative in Ethiopia, Tim Clarke is busy running an athletic event in Addis Abeba trying to to distract popular attention from Meles the fraudster. He says not economic or any action is planed against the Eritrean tyrant and UK mercenary. 

Museveni is Good, Kenya Can Do No Right - Hey, That's Economics (nationmedia.com, 12/05/05) "The Netherlands has announced that it is withholding about a quarter of its aid to Uganda, citing concerns about governance and economic mismanagement Observers saw it as the first action by a donor to express displeasure at what critics say is President Museveni's metamorphosis "into a Robert Mugabe". "...A close study of donor action in Africa reveals a paradox: The more dependent a country is on donor money, the less it responds to their pressure. Take aid-bloated Ethiopia, where recently the government killed nearly 40 people and rounded up hundreds following protests over election rigging."

ETHIOPIA: Lack of Rain in the Eastern Somali Region (irinnews.org, 12/05/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 5 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - Critical rains have failed in eastern Ethiopia, raising fears for vulnerable pastoral communities already living under precarious circumstances, aid organisations warned on Friday. The livestock-dependent eastern Somali region, which has suffered successive droughts as well as economic hardship, should have seen rains at the beginning of October, according to the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net)."

Herman Cohen's and Tony Blair's (a.k.a. Tim Clarke) Emissary in Ethiopia: Meles Zenawi Fascistic Brutality Unmasked by Channel4.com, (12/04/05) A must see video>>Watch the report 1. Ethiopia's Agony (channel4.com/ top-clips video) "An exclusive report on the supposedly model African state, where human rights abuses have continued to grow since May's controversial elections."

Melese Zenawi's Special police terrorizing unarmed civilians in Addis Abeba in June 2005.  EDITORIAL NOTE: In 1936 two  Ethiopian patriots Abraham Debotch and Zeraay Deresse threw grenades at fascist Italian generals watching a parade and wounded General Graziani- the commandant. In retaliation Graziani killed 30,000 Addis residents that same night. The MLLT/TPLF Commissar, Meles Zenawi. has so far massacred more that 3,000 without any provocations.

Meles Zenawi's special police, Agazian Forces and EPRDF Federal Police, fully armed, massacred peaceful demonstrators in Addis Abeba on June 8, 2005. In November & December 2005, more than 50,000 people rounded up and dumped at Dedessa, Zeway, and other concentration camps. Hundreds are dying. The entire leadership of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy and civic leaders were rounded up and jailed following peaceful demonstrations.

US, China Wage Diplomatic Battle on 'Playing Field' of Africa: Report (yahoo.news.com -AFP- 12/05/05) "WASHINGTON (AFP) - China is challenging US interests and values in Africa, shielding "rogue states," trampling the environment and thwarting anti-corruption drives, according to a new independent survey of US policy on the continent. Beijing and the United States are on opposite sides in a new struggle for influence and resources in the new "playing field" of Africa, the study by a non partisan task force sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations found."

Democratic Dawn in Ethiopia Fades as Abuses Come to Light: Post-election protests have resulted in a wave of arrests (observer.guardian.co.uk, 12/04/05) "Ethiopia is in danger of losing millions of pounds of foreign aid as disturbing new evidence of violence and mass detentions emerges from the country that until recently was being hailed as the great democratic hope of Africa. International donors are deeply concerned about the political chaos in a country whose prime minister, Meles Zenawi, was supposed to be setting an example of good governance. Five months after Ethiopia descended into political chaos following a dispute over the country's first democratic elections, details are emerging that give a disturbing glimpse into the scale of human rights abuses taking place."

Ethiopia, Sudan Agree to Cooperate in Security Along Border (sudantribune. com, 12/03/05) "Dec 1, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia and Sudan have agreed to cooperate in the keeping of peace and security along their common border for mutual development gains of the two countries. The agreement signed on 28 November in the Ethiopian town of Gonder provides for the military commands of the two countries along the common border to cooperate in the areas of maintaining the peace and security of the areas, the Ministry of Defence told the official news agency ENA."

Eritrea and Sudan to Discuss Border Re-opening (today.reuters.com, 12/02/05) "ASMARA (Reuters) - Eritrea and Sudan will start talks next week on opening their common border, closed in 2002 when Khartoum accused Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups, a senior Sudanese official said on Friday. Relations between Eritrea and Sudan have warmed since the September formation of a new Sudanese government that includes former southern rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).Al-Samani Al-Wasleea, one of two state ministers at Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said discussions in the Eritrean capital Asmara headed by Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol could re-open the frontier."

Bush Cites Commitments When Called For Jury Duty (guardian.co.uk, 12/02/05) "George Bush had to explain that he was a little busy running the US when he was called for jury duty. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said yesterday Mr Bush never received the summons to appear at a court in Texas for jury duty on Monday and the White House learned about it through media reports. "We have since called the court to inform them that the president has other commitments on Monday, and that he would like to reschedule his jury duty," he said."

Court Orders 23 Ethiopian Opposition Held Again (alertnet -Reuters- 12/01/05) "ADDIS ABABA, Dec 1 (Reuters) - An Ethiopian court on Thursday ordered 23 opposition politicians held for 15 more days on suspicion of inciting post-election violence and ordered prosecutors to file formal charges within that period. The opposition members, arrested in a sweep that saw thousands jailed after the latest round of bloody demonstrations over the results of Ethiopia's May 15 parliamentary poll, appeared in court looking weakened by a four-day hunger strike." RELATED STORY: ETHIOPIA: Opposition Leaders Denied Bail (irinnews.org, 12/02/05)

Ethiopia's security forces cracked down on protesters in the capital of Addis Ababa.      AFP Photo

Ethiopian Turmoil Six Months After General Election (voanews.com, 12/01/05) "Six months after Ethiopia’s general election, the state continues to punish those who question the results, which returned Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to power. Clashes in June and November between Ethiopian authorities and protesters have killed more than 85 people. The crackdown began amid clashes between security forces and opposition supporters who accused the Prime Minister of rigging the polls in May.  Authorities have closed most private newspapers, jailed local journalists, and detained family members of journalists in hiding."

POLITICAL ANALYSIS The Rise of an Eritrean Clique From the Womb of TPLF by Abiy Araia July 2001(ethiomedia.com, archives)  EDITORIAL NOTE: Let the truth be told. We reminded you so many times in our editorials that Meles Zenawi and Isaias Afeworki are fraternal comrades in arms in the cause of Eritrea. Isaias and Meles were about to launch a suicidal attack on Ethiopia last week.  But finally, they both feel comfortable that Meles is safe and Meles is telling the UN that he is pulling his forces back from the border. RELATED STORY: A Woyane General Tells BBC Radio Reporter the Tigray-Eritrea Border is Impenetrable - That is, there will never be a war between the two now that Tigrean patriots have been eliminated and "Neftegna and Derg riffraff" silenced. The next ploy  to distract global attention from the Ethnic cleansing in Ethiopia will likely be an insurrection against Isaias or a concocted 'invasion by the Republic of Somalia or the Sudan'.  Stay focused. Meles must go! (fettan.com, 12/01/05)

Ethiopia Troops Defect to Eritrea (news.bbc.co.uk, 12/01/05) "At least seven Ethiopian soldiers have defected to Eritrea while on a private training course in Israel, the Israeli foreign ministry has confirmed. The Eritrean ambassador in Israel said the soldiers - reported to be of Eritrean descent - arrived at his house and asked for political asylum. They were then flown to Eritrea on a private plane."

ETHIOPIA: Possible Pullback of Troops From Border - UNMEE (irinnews.org, 12/01/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 1 December (IRIN) - Ethiopia may be willing to pull back thousands of troops recently moved close to its tense border with Eritrea, the UN military commander in the region said on Thursday. Maj-Gen Rajender Singh, commander of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) peacekeeping force, said Ethiopia had indicated that they would comply with a recent UN Security Council resolution calling for a return of both Ethiopian and Eritrean troops to their 16 December positions." RELATED STORY: UN Hopeful Ethiopia Will Withdraw Troops From Tense Border (voanews.com, 12/01/05)

Bush Renews Nation's Commitment to Fight AIDS (voanews.com, 12/01/05) "President Bush says the United States has a challenge and a responsibility to battle AIDS at home and abroad. On World AIDS Day Mr. Bush reaffirmed America's commitment to fight the disease. The president says the United States is making a big difference in the global fight against AIDS, and will continue to stand with those in need." RELATED STORY: Europeans Reject Abstinence Message in Split With US on Aids (guardian.co.uk, 12/01/05)

ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: Top US Envoy Meets Government Officials (irinnews.org, 11/30/05) "ADDIS ABABA, 30 November (IRIN) - A top US diplomat for African affairs has arrived in Ethiopia on a three-day mission to help breathe new life into a stalled peace process with Eritrea, the US embassy said on Tuesday. Donald Yamamoto, the deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Monday. He will also discuss post-election disturbances in Ethiopia with members of his administration, an official said. He will also meet some leaders of opposition parties, according to Beyene Petros, chairman of the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces."

Eritreans Flee Amid War Fears (news24.com -AFP- 11/29/05) "Asmara - Eritreans are fleeing their country in growing numbers amid fears of a new war with Ethiopia and economic hardships blamed on authoritarian government policies, according to diplomats and UN figures. In the first eight months of 2005, more Eritreans have risked death to leave the impoverished Horn of Africa nation than in all of 2004, according to UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) statistics."

AFP/File Photo: Senior US diplomat Donald Yamamoto, pictured here in 2004, is in Ethiopia this week

Senior US Envoy in Ethiopia to Cool Border, Post-Election Tension (news.yahoo.com -AFP- 11/29/05) "ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - A senior US diplomat is in Ethiopia this week seeking to cool its soaring border tensions with Eritrea and ease a domestic political crisis over disputed elections, the US embassy said. Donald Yamamoto, the deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, arrived in the capital on Monday for "discussions on the border and political developments in Ethiopia," an embassy spokesman said. The envoy is expected to meet with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Wednesday as well as Ethiopian opposition officials during his visit, other details of which were not immediately available." RELATED STORY: Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD) Letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Regarding the Meles Zenawi Regime Sponsored Violence in Ethiopia (English pdf)

Lench Batti, Public Relations Officer of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) Interview by Netsanet Le Ethiopia Radio -Washington, DC (Amharic audio, 11/27/05)

Ethiopian Government Arrests Two More Journalists (voanews.com, 11/29/05) "Ethiopian authorities have reportedly arrested two more journalists in an ongoing government crackdown on the press.  The Committee to Protect Journalists says the latest arrests bring the number of journalists detained since political unrest erupted four weeks ago to at least 12.  Sources in Addis Ababa tell the CPJ the two arrested are Serkalem Fassil, publisher of the Amharic-language weeklies Menelik, Asqual and Satanaw -- and her husband, Iskinder Nega, also a journalist.  They are reportedly being held at an undisclosed location." listen to interview with Alexis Arief

Four Ethiopian Soldiers Die in Landmine Blast-U.N. (alertnet.org -Reuters - 11/29/05) "ASMARA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Four Ethiopian soldiers were killed and three were wounded when their vehicle hit a newly laid landmine last week near the tense border with Eritrea, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The United Nations does not know who laid the mine, less than 15 km (9 miles) from the border, but about 50 mines have been laid in both countries within the last four years. Most incidents have been in or near the U.N.-patrolled temporary security zone (TSZ) that separates the two armies."  RELATED STORY: ETHIOPIA: Four Soldiers Killed in Landmine Blast (irinnews.org, 11/29/05)

Tree Locusts Invade Eastern Ethiopia (angolapress.angop.ao, 11/29/05) "Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,11/29 - The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Monday reported a tree locust invasion in the Afar Region of eastern Ethiopia. Locusts have been observed in Awash Arba town, Gelsa, some "kebeles" (districts) of Awash Fentale namely Boloita, Kebena and Fursi. A FAO collected sample and sent to the Desert Locust Control Organisation (DLCO) in Addis Ababa has confirmed that the pests wer