Addis Ababa - Ethiopia on Monday dropped charges against top dissident Bekele Gerba, state media reported, ending the trial of a critic whose detention fuelled deadly protests and brought the country international condemnation. "The federal attorney general today dropped charges against seven suspects, including Bekele Gerba," state-affiliated Fana Broadcast Corporate reported. But protests still occur occasionally, and Bekele's trial on charges of inciting violence was a bone of contention among Oromos, Ethiopia's largest ethnicity. "It seems the government has sensed the grievance of the people growing for not releasing Bekele," his attorney Ameha Mekonnen told AFP. Since Hailemariam's announcement, Ethiopia dropped charges against OFC chairperson Merera Gudina, and announced it would also release blogger Eskinder Nega and opposition leader Andualem Arage, though the latter two have yet to walk free.

Source: Ethiopian News February 12, 2018 14:26 UTC