ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopia's government says comments by the prime minister on Wednesday that appeared to refer to the planned release of political prisoners instead referred to imprisoned politicians. But the government steadfastly denies that the East African nation has political prisoners. He also announced plans to close the notorious Maekelawi prison camp in what he called an effort to "widen the democratic space for all." Rights groups and opposition groups in Ethiopia had been calling for their release, saying they were arrested on trumped-up charges and punished for their points of view. While the plans to close the Maekelawi camp are welcome, "the closure must not be used to whitewash the horrifying events that have taken place there," Fisseha said.

Source: Ethiopian News January 04, 2018 15:56 UTC