Ethiopia genocide charges dropped

Ethiopia genocide charges dropped

The opposition leaders say the government controls the court

An Ethiopian judge has quashed controversial charges of attempted genocide and treason against 111 people arrested after election protests.

Twenty-five accused, mostly journalists and publishers, have also been acquitted of all charges.

However several opposition leaders remain in custody, accused of trying to violently overthrow the government.

Amnesty International says the charges of genocide were "absurd" and that the accused are "prisoners of conscience".

The accused have always said the trial was political and all but two have refused to co-operate.

Almost 200 people died in two waves of protests over alleged vote-rigging - denied by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

The genocide charges related to accusations that members of Mr Meles' Tigray community were targeted during the protests.

The opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy blames the deaths on the security forces.

The violence and the charges of election fraud have tarnished Mr Meles' image as a favourite of western donors and one of a new wave of reforming African leaders.

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