JURIST - Paper Chase: Ethiopian leader to charge opposition with treason over election protests

[JURIST] Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi [BBC News profile] on Wednesday said treason charges would be leveled against the leaders of violent protests that left 42 dead following a confrontation with police last week. Meles called the protests an "Orange Revolution gone wrong," in reference to protests in Ukraine [JURIST report] last year. The opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy party organized the demonstration last week to protest alleged government fraud in May elections in Ethiopia [JURIST news archive]. The government has denied the allegations, but the EU has said the election fell below international standards. Meles did not say who would be charged in connection with the protest, but the government on Monday took 24 people to court, including opposition leaders and journalists. Meles has been criticized by human rights groups for his handling of the demonstrations. Reuters has more.

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