adugenet.com

Ethiopia's new anti-terror law strips journalists of the right to protect the identity of their sources, a top official said in a statement carried Saturday by the national news agency ENA.

"The anti-terrorism law revoked the rights of journalists not to disclose their information sources when they report on terrorism," the agency quoted State Minister for Communication Shimeles Kemal as saying.

"The new law revoked this right taking into consideration the magnitude of disasters caused by terrorism," he added.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, only one other African country has jailed more journalists than Ethiopia and only last week it imprisoned a columnist for criticising the prime minister.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch voiced concern before the bill was passed last year that some of its provisions were targeted at the nation's media.

"A journalist interviewing an opposition politician or a supporter of an armed opposition group could be deemed to be 'encouraging' terrorism merely by publicising the views of the interviewee," it said.

The Ethiopian government describes as terrorism the rebellions it has been trying to stamp out for years in the Oromo and Ogaden regions.

AFP

Four Ethiopian athletes who have vanished in the UK are believed to be seeking asylum. The two men and two women were among a team of 10 due to compete today in a televised competition in Scotland.

But one of the Africans fled shortly after landing at Heathrow.

Another three disappeared from the team hotel before they were due to catch a flight to Edinburgh yesterday. Two were spotted sneaking out of the foyer by one of the team's managers - but an attempt to stop them failed.

Ethiopian team co-ordinator Dagmawit Amare said: "I am so sorry this has happened.

"This is very embarrassing for our country and for our athletics team. We are not worried about the safety of the athletes who disappeared because it appears obvious they are seeking asylum.

"My colleague actually tried to restrain two of them but they ran off. This is such a sad thing to happen for my country and the sport." The Ethiopian embassy in London is liaising with the Home Office over the missing athletes and their expected claims for asylum.

The athletes are said to be women's 200metres runner Betelhem Shewatatek, women's 400metre hurdler Feleke Bekele, men's 400metre runner Hagos Tadesse and Tirehas Haileselassie, who is also a 400metre hurdler.

They were due to compete in the Falkirk Cup against teams from Scotland, England, Ireland and the Bank of Scotland.

The meeting's manager Ross Cunningham said: "It blows a hole in the Ethiopian team's prospects and it represents our worst scenario in inviting them."

Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie earlier promoted the meeting, saying: "I hope everyone competing abroad for Ethiopia does so with pride, determination and enjoyment."

By Stephen Moyes 26/08/2009
Mirror.co.uk

A fourth member of an Ethiopian exchange programme has gone missing from Hartlepool.

Police have launched a missing persons inquiry following the disappearance of Konjit Assefa, 22, who was last seen in the town centre on Tuesday.

Three other members of the nine-strong group, all men in their 20s, vanished while visiting London, though one later made contact and has since left the UK.

Organisers Global Xchange said the incidents were damaging to its work.

The programme is designed to give young people from different countries an opportunity to work on community development projects and promote cross cultural understanding.

A team of 18 young people, nine from Hartlepool and nine from Ethiopia, have been working together for three months in each country.

Phil Hudson, head of Global Xchange, said: "Our primary concern is for the safety of Konjit and we are helping the police with their inquiries.

Others 'distressed'

"However, we take very seriously any actions that damage the reputation of the programme, which over the past 10 years has had a significant impact on community development and enhanced the skills and perspectives of thousands of young people."

The organisation will review its security procedures, and give "serious consideration" to which countries it works with in the future, he added.

The remainder of the Ethiopian group are due to fly home on Monday, and are said to be distressed and disappointed.

Those still missing are not yet being treated as illegal immigrants, as they still have visas until mid-September.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Ms Assefa should contact Cleveland Police.

BBC

 Three Ethiopian Exchange Students 'Vanish'

Three African exchange students have vanished during a trip to the Houses of Parliament.

The three Ethiopian men were among a group of nine visitors who were staying with families in Hartlepool as part of a three-month visit to the UK.

But at the end of a day's tour in the Houses of Commons and Lords, the trio failed to turn up and organisers Global Xchange were forced to report them missing.

Missing: Muluneh Tilahun Abera (left) and Habtamu Debela have not been seen since they went to buy calling cards after visiting the Houses of Parliament

Police and Home Office chiefs are now investigating their disappearance. Organisers say their main concern is for the safety of the men, who have been named as Zerihun Weldeyohans, 24, Habtamu Debela, 27, and 21-year-old Muluneh Tilahun Abera.

They had left the rest of the group to buy telephone calling cards at around 6pm, but did not rejoin their group or return to their London hotel.

Concerns grew when they failed to turn up for the 11am journey to Hartlepool the following morning.

All have valid visas which run until September 9. The Global Xchange programme involves 18 volunteers, nine from the UK and nine from Ethiopia, living in Hartlepool while working for community organisations.

Zerihun is based at Cafe 177 and Headline Futures, Habtamu at the West View Project, while Muluneh has been working at Hartlepool United's study support centre.

A statement released by the organisers said the men went missing on July 15.

It read: 'All three are male and aged between 21 and 24. The group had been on a trip to London to visit the Houses of Parliament.

Daily Mail

Ethiopia’s most popular singer, Teddy Afro, was freed early from prison on Thursday after serving 18 months of a two-year sentence for hit-and-run manslaughter.

The performer, whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun, was found guilty of killing an 18-year-old homeless man while driving his BMW in the capital Addis Ababa in 2007.

Lawyers said he was freed early because of good behavior.

“I would like to express my respect and gratitude to all the people of our country,” Afro told state TV after his release.

“I was able to meet many good people in prison, from the lowest-ranking policemen to the highest administrator. I had a nice time. My relations with other prisoners were also good.”

Afro, who is well known for criticizing the government in his fiery lyrics, is hugely popular among young Ethiopians and sings mostly in the local Amharic language.

Hundreds protested outside the court during his trial — an unusual event in a nation where dissent is rare.

His sentence had been cut from six years in February after his lawyer argued that the victim had been drunk and was lying unconscious on the road when he was hit by the singer’s car.

Afro has always denied being in the vehicle.

Reuters