Reuters AlertNet Lite - US legislators tell Ethiopia to reform or lose aid

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

US legislators tell Ethiopia to reform or lose aid

03 Oct 2007 09:50:06 GMT
Source: Reuters

NAIROBI, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would force Ethiopia, one of Washington's strongest military partners in Africa, to make democratic reforms or else lose security aid.

The bill, passed on Tuesday, would also deny U.S. entry visas to Ethiopian government officials involved in what it calls human rights violations, unless the president authorises a waiver, according to a copy obtained from a congressional Web site.

But the bill exempts counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations from any funding restrictions, both roles that Ethiopia is playing in the aftermath of a war to install a U.S.-backed government in neighbouring Somalia.

The vote came nearly two years after two violent protests over May 2005 election results left nearly 200 dead when protesters claiming vote-rigging clashed with security forces.

That, and a subsequent trial of opposition members including those who won seats in parliament and other positions, led to criticism from rights groups and the withholding of certain aid by the European Union and Britain.

The bill would withhold aid unless Ethiopia accepts outside human rights monitoring, fosters an independent judiciary and media, and permits U.S.-funded assistance to those ends.

The bill passed on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., still needs U.S. Senate approval and a presidential signature before it becomes a law.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Eritrea profile
· View map

• Ethiopia profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• CWS situation report: Ethiopian floods
CWS

• Red Cross Red Crescent statistics show Africa's flooding crisis will only get worse
IFRC - Switzerland

• ACT Alert: Floods in Amhara and Gambella, Ethiopia
ACT - Switzerland

• Mercy Corps' New Community Climate Initiative Helps the Vulnerable Tackle Global Warming Effects; Calls Action an
Mercy Corps

• Brown government disappoints on first test of AIDS commitment
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

MORE >>

Latest news

• US legislators tell Ethiopia to reform or lose aid

• Sudan pledges $300m Darfur compensation - Carter

• NEWSMAKER-Than Shwe, Myanmar junta's "old fox"

• Myanmar junta releases 229 monks, nuns

• Myanmar junta arrests more; UN envoy in Singapore

MORE >>

Last updated:Wed Oct 3 09:50:21 2007