Ethiopia prosecutor requests death for 38 opposition members
Yahoo News - July 9, 2007
The prosecutor of Ethiopia's Federal High Court on Monday requested the death penalty for 38 opposition members accused of "plotting against the constitution".
"According to the country's penal code maximum punishment should be dealt to parties found guilty of plotting against the constitution," the court's top prosecutor Abraha Tetemke said.
The 38 are among more than 100 opposition figures put on trial by the state on charges of plotting a coup following disputed 2005 polls which the ruling party won but the opposition claims were rigged.
The group, convicted on June 11, had refused to be defended in court and admitted responsibility for the unrest that followed the controversial legislative elections.
"Since all the accused were found guilty of this charge, we call on the court to hand them the death penalty," Tetemke argued ...
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