Ethiopia: Calls for release of jailed opposition leaders

Lawyers for jailed Ethiopian opposition leaders the government blames for a week of violent political protests went to court today demanding their clients be charged or released.

“This is a massive contravention of the constitution,” Getachew Kitaw, head of the Ethiopian Bar Association, told journalists at the court.

“We are filing a habeas corpus application because the authorities have not produced the prisoners and they should do that in 48 hours.”

Getachew was among 70 lawyers representing the top 20 leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy. He said thousands of opposition supporters had been detained across the country.