PM Hailem­ariam gave no indica­tion of how many prison­ers would be affect­ed by the declar­ationADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s leader promised Wednesday to release “politicians” from jail and shut down a detention centre where human rights groups allege torture is routine. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn made the undertaking in comments to reporters in the capital Addis Ababa, although he did not provide details. UK foreign minister in Iran to push for Briton’s releaseIn the surprise announcement, Hailemariam said jailed politicians would be pardoned while those awaiting trial would have charges against them dropped. But he gave no indication of how many prisoners would be affected by the declaration nor whether it would apply to the many thousands regarded as political prisoners by human rights groups and opposition activists. A 2013 report by Human Rights Watch alleged “all manner of abuses, including torture” were carried out by police at the centre, a charge denied by the government.

Source: The Express Tribune January 03, 2018 13:52 UTC