The Associated Press
WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday urged Ethiopia to grant clemency to 35 opposition politicians and activists sentenced to life in prison for inciting violence in an attempt to overthrow the government.
The prosecution had called for death sentences against the defendants, who included Ethiopia’s top opposition leaders.
“We’re following it very closely,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. “As a matter of trying to bring together the Ethiopian people and bringing an end to this particular chapter of political turmoil, we would urge the Ethiopian authorities to strongly consider clemency for these individuals.”
International human rights groups have widely condemned the trial as an attempt to silence government critics, and opposition leaders have claimed it was politically motivated.
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