Five killed while attempt to capture Birtukan Mideksa

Five killed while attempt to capture Birtukan Mideksa
FINFINNE – Security forces killed at least five civilians and wounded scores of others during a foiled attempt to arrest Birtukan Mideksa, the young and charismatic leader of the powerful opposition CUDP on Wednesday. The clashes involved thousands of city residents who were chanting, "Birtukan Is Our Ethiopian Heroine!" Eye witnesses described the clash in an Addis Ababan neighboorhood called Ferensai Legacion as “fierce and lasting several hours." “Birtukan is our leader and we cannot allow thugs to touch her, leave alone to arrest her,” were among the slogans being chanted by angry residents of Addis Ababa, an opposition stronghold of 4 million now in its second day of clashing with police and security forces loyal to ruthless tyrant Meles Zenawi. The security forces could not find Birtukan, and the whereabouts of CUD's acting vice president remained a mystery. Young, educated and charismatic, Birtukan came to national attention in 2002 when as a Supreme Court judge made headlines over a crucial court case involving the prime minister as a plaintiff and his political opponent, former Defense Minister Siye Abraha, as defendant. Judge Birtukan set Siye free, ruling there was no evidence to keep the defendant in jail over alleged corruption charges. A dismayed Meles dispatched his security men to the court, and reversing the court ruling, sent the former TPLF official back to prison. Siye had accused Meles of “treason” as an Eritrean agent who foiled Ethiopia’s counter-offensive against Eritrean invasion in the previous war, but the minister serves time to this day in an Addis Ababa prison. Defiant Birtukan abandoned the judiciary as it lacked independence from the controls of the prime minister. Her ascent into the leadership of Ethiopia’s most popular, multi-ethnic opposition party is hailed as tremendous boost to the political stature of CUD. Security Forces Murder Elected Councilman’s Wife On the second day of protests which has so far claimed the lives of 41 people, security forces killed the wife of Addis Ababa Councilman Teshome Legesse while sobbing when her husband was being taken away to prison. According to the Ethiopian Review, the wife of the councilman was shot to death on the spot – execution style. ER also reported youths were being dragged out of their homes, and executed in the streets. An army truck near the Ground Forces Camp in Addis burst into flames from a mysterious explosion. Despite carrying troops, the number of casualties couldn’t be confirmed. (EthioMedia) Making a political Movie ADDIS ABABA - This morning at Kazanchis, a cameraman was sitting in a Toyota Landcruiser and recording the whole area. While he was recording, two youngsters approached a policeman and ran away with his AK-47 rifle. We realised it was a government drama to accuse the opposition of attacking a policeman. In the past, we have seen similar dramas on the Ethiopian Television. (An observer from Addis Ababa)