US voices alarm over Ethiopia arrests of journalistsWASHINGTON - The United States on Tuesday voiced alarm over Ethiopia's targeting of journalists in a sweep of arrests in the northern Amhara region. "We are deeply concerned about the narrowing space for freedom of expression and independent media in Ethiopia, including a troubling increase in reports of harassment, detention, arrests of journalists, media professionals, and activists," Price told reporters. "We strongly urge the government of Ethiopia and regional authorities to uphold the rule of law and provide all applicable procedural safeguards for any individual arrested," Price told reporters. Authorities in Amhara, the second-most populous region in Ethiopia, said more than 4,000 people suspected of crimes had been arrested in an ongoing enforcement operation. But one group, the American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee, on Tuesday also condemned the arrests in Amhara as "not consistent with democratic values."

Source: Ethiopian News May 26, 2022 00:04 UTC