Reuters AlertNet Lite - Ethiopian probe team criticises judge over report

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Ethiopian probe team criticises judge over report

07 Nov 2006 17:56:25 GMT
Source: Reuters

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 7 (Reuters) - A team that investigated two bouts of post-election violence in Ethiopia in 2005 criticised a judge on Tuesday for leaking a report that accused security agents of conducting a "massacre".

The independent Inquiry Commission said the judge, Wolde-Michael Meshesha, misrepresented facts for political gain. He was the commission's deputy head and has since gone to Europe.

"Taking (the report) out of context and presenting (it) to the public to sensationalise the situation for his political end is highly unethical," Gemechu Megerssa, a member of the commission, told a press conference, attended by five of the total seven members.

The report presented by the commission to parliament last month said 193 civilians and six policemen were killed in June and November 2005 in the capital Addis Ababa and some regional towns.

Opposition politicians have dismissed the probe as an attempted cover-up because it failed to accuse security forces of using excessive force to suppress opposition protests after the May election. The opposition accused the government of cheating in the election, the government denies this.

The early version leaked by the exiled judge alleged that unarmed protestors were shot, beaten and strangled to death.

"We had 48 kinds of documents we agreed upon. What the judge issued to the public is taking out one of the documents and presenting it to the public. This is dishonest," Gemechu said.

Gemechu defended the Commission's report presented to parliament saying it had criticised the government "for weaknesses and mistakes" during the violence.

"The government was not prepared to tackle ... violence like that which took place last year. They could have brought an alternative way of dispersing rioting crowds," he said.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said he regretted the violence but blamed it squarely on opportunist rioters and an opposition conspiracy to topple him by force.

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Last updated:Tue Nov 7 18:01:24 2006