An Ethiopian opposition leader from a region hit by deadly anti-government protests has been arrested after returning from meeting members of the European Parliament in Brussels, a political ally said on Thursday. Merera Gudina leads the Oromo People's Congress from Ethiopia's Oromiya region, which has been the center of protests against land grabs and what opponents say is a government clampdown on political freedoms. "Given this violation, Merera is in custody and an investigation is currently taking place," the Amharic-language statement said. Ethiopia's government, which scrapped the capital's development plan after protests erupted, denies imposing political restrictions or illegally taking land. Opposition parties failed to secure a single seat in parliament in the last elections in 2015.

Source: Ethiopian News December 01, 2016 14:35 UTC