Ethiopia frees 38 Opposition Members

Fri 20 Jul 2007

By Tsegaye Tadesse

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia on Friday freed 38 opposition members sentenced to jail this week for treason, inciting violence and trying to overthrow the government, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said.

Rights groups and donor governments complained the trial was politically motivated and an attempt to dismantle the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) after they made strong gains at May 2005 elections that spawned deadly protests.

"The pardon is total. They are being freed with their constitutional rights restored. They have committed themselves to adhere (to) and respect the rule of law as well as the constitution of the country," Meles told a press conference.

"They are being released as I speak."

An Ethiopian court on Monday rejected a prosecution attempt to sentence the CUD leaders to death, and handed life sentences to 35 of them. Eight other defendants were given sentences of between 18 months and 18 years.

The sentences following a nearly two-year-long trial were immediately met with criticism from rights groups. The United States, a close ally of Meles, urged clemency.

The defendants were tried after two post-election bouts of violence in which 199 people were killed, 800 wounded and 30,000 arrested, according to a parliamentary inquiry.

"We believe that the sorry saga of the orange revolution is fully behind us," Meles said.

WASHINGTON

The return of their constitutional rights means the imprisoned CUD members, among them elected legislators and the mayor-elect of Addis Ababa, can run for election again.

It was not immediately clear if those who had won seats would be able to take them after their release. They were due to be released from Kaliti prison on the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday.

"The decision to pardon the CUD members also conveys that there is no sense of revenge by the government," Meles said.

Meles denied influence from Washington, which considers Ethiopia its strongest counter-terrorism ally in the Horn of Africa, had played any role.

"The Ethiopian government isn't willing and is unable to be run like a banana republic from Capitol Hill. Some individuals appear to be entertaining such illusions," Meles said.

It was not immediately clear whether the remaining people convicted in the case, among them opposition members, journalists and rights activists, would be pardoned.

The government has said the clemency appeal of the remaining prisoners out of the 72 convicted would follow, as well as those who are in exile and were tried in absentia.

The Ethiopian government completed the clemency appeal in just five days after the CUD leaders sent a letter admitting their guilt and pledging to respect the law.

The government made the letter public on state television on Monday, hours after the sentences were handed down. The CUD has never confirmed in public the authenticity of the letter, which the government said was received by Meles three weeks ago.

Reuters 2007

Breaking News: Ethiopia Releases Protest Leaders

Ethiopia releases protest leaders

The group had reportedly confessed and asked for a pardon Thirty Ethiopian opposition leaders have been pardoned and freed from prison just days after being given life sentences over election protests. Three minibuses have reportedly left the prison while the group's supporters whistled and shouted for joy outside. The group always said the trial was political and refused to enter a plea, leading to the men's conviction. Ethiopia came under strong international pressure over the trial, and some donors cut aid. But Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi denied that he was following US orders to free the 30 Coalition for Unity and Democracy leaders and six others convicted over the protests. "The Ethiopian government isn't willing and is unable to be run like a banana republic from Capitol Hill. Some individuals appear to be entertaining such illusions," he said. PROTEST SENTENCES In court: Life in jail: 30 opposition leaders 15-18 years: 6 young men for rioting 1-3 years: 2 journalists In absentia: Life in jail: 5 Democracy on trial He also said that some of the international pressure had been "shameful". Among the 30 are CUD leader Hailu Shawel, the mayor-elect of the Addis Ababa Berhanu Nega and several other MPs and councillors from the capital. Five others were convicted in absentia. 'Orange revolution' Mr Meles also said their rights to vote and contest elections would be restored. But he said the MPs had boycotted parliament for two years and so may be unable to reclaim their seats now. Most of those who died were protesters The government had said the 30 had confessed to their crimes and had asked for a pardon. The head of the European Union 2005 election observers in Ethiopia had condemned the life sentences as "farcical" and "inhumane". After the state prosecutor called for the death penalty, the US urged the government to "promote reconciliation" in the final sentence. The government always said it could not interfere in the case until the legal process had finished. Some 193 people died after thousands of people protested against the election results. Most of those were protesters, killed by the security forces. Tens of thousands of people were arrested. "We believe that the sorry saga of the orange revolution is fully behind us," Mr Meles said. The government denied charges of ballot-rigging and points out that it introduced multi-party elections to Ethiopia. BBC News

Local couple adopting from Ethiopia back home, ‘happy’ baby in tow

By Heath Urie

Amelie Helen Cudmore celebrated her very first birthday last Monday In Evergreen, away from the thatched grass huts and scorching desert climate she was born into.

Amelie, born into the Oromo Tribe in the East African nation of Ethiopia, also celebrated her birthday for the first time with loving parents at her side.

Danielle Marquis and Bryan Cudmore of Evergreen adopted the girl from her native country after she was found abandoned at a mosque as a newborn.

Marquis, a 27-year-old attorney and sports agent, decided along with her husband shortly after their marriage at the Evergreen Lake House two years ago that they would adopt their first child.

They chose to pursue a baby from Africa, partly for the couple’s love of world travel, but also because of the estimated 4 million poverty-stricken orphans in need of families there. It took more than a year of paperwork and close to $40,000 for Amelie to finally come to a family in the United States. But, Marquis said it was worth every penny.

“Ethiopia was even better than we thought it would be,” she said. “It was unbelievable. The people are so genuinely nice. Everyone asked us over to their house for dinner.”

One of the first places the couple visited upon arriving in their child’s birth country was the orphanage where Amelie lived. There, they held their daughter for the first time.

“She came right to both of us,” Marquis said. “She fell asleep on Bryan’s lap.”

While waiting for adoption papers to be finalized, the trio had their first bonding experience — at a hotel pool.

“That’s when she came out of her shell,” Marquis said. “That’s really when the three of us were able to bond — playing in the water.”

Later, the parents were able to visit Amelie’s birth city.

“It was in the middle of absolutely nowhere,” Marquis said. “We spent the evening with (Amelie’s tribe). It was the coolest thing I’ve ever done. They live in grass huts and herd goats. All the men had (assault rifles) on their backs, but they were the nicest people on the planet. The people are stunningly beautiful.”

The couple had also spent the year prior to picking up their child collecting school and medical supplies to donate to two local orphanages and hospitals.

They also brought along $5,000 in cash donations, which is about half of what was needed to construct a new orphanage there.

The new facility will be dedicated to Amelie. “She’s the happiest child I've ever met in my life,” Marquis said. “She’s always smiling and giggling. Other than the first day, she’s felt like our kid, and we must feel like her parents.

“I love being a mom, and she makes it easy.”

www.evergreenco.com

US Seeks Clemency for Ethiopian Opposition Leaders

By Nick Wadhams
Nairobi
18 July 2007

Wadhams report - Download 788k
Listen to Wadhams report

The United States is asking Ethiopia to grant clemency to 35 opposition members sentenced to life in prison for their role in election protests in 2005. Many people believe that the group will be freed; yet some in the opposition fear Ethiopia is far removed from true democracy two years after the bloody demonstrations. Nick Wadhams reports from our East Africa bureau in Nairobi.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says clemency would help end a chapter of political turmoil and bring the Ethiopian people closer together. The 35 were sentenced Monday, while eight others received lesser sentences.

Ethiopian policemen look at students demonstrating at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, 06 June 2005

They are convicted of involvement in demonstrations two years ago in which hundreds of thousands of people protested the results of national elections. Almost 200 people, including six police officers, were killed during the protests.

The trials drew widespread criticism from Ethiopia's opposition, the international community and human rights groups. They accuse Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of using the courts to stifle his opponents.

The critics also point to a wider crackdown against the opposition in Addis Ababa and throughout Ethiopia.

One leading opposition figure, Merera Gudina, says he expects that the prisoners will be freed. But he says that will do nothing to address his concern that the opposition has been frozen out of the political scene.

"Well, it can help the release of the prisoners no doubt about that, but the problem is, I am not sure whether it can move forward, the Ethiopian politics," he said. "The democratic process is generally frozen. As far as the release of the prisoners are concerned, possibly the wind in the city looks like they are going to achieve that. But as far as the larger political process in the country is concerned, I do not think much could be achieved."

The government's move to squelch the protests and its subsequent crackdown has put the United States in an awkward position. The United States is Ethiopia's most important ally and has cooperated closely with it during its invasion of Somalia, which began on Christmas Eve.

U.S. officials have been careful not to speak out about the Ethiopian government's poor human rights record. Washington had not criticized the trials and only expressed concern when prosecutors in the trial asked for the death penalty.

On Tuesday, the state-run Ethiopian Herald newspaper published a letter in which the prisoners acknowledged making mistakes and requested that the government pardon them. The country's president must make the final decision, but the laws gives him almost no power and any release must have Prime Minister Meles' consent.

Opposition party member Merera and others say the letter from the jailed leaders may not be genuine. It could be a new government attempt to taint the opposition and resurrect its image in the face of international condemnation.

"Ethiopian television and radio is in a serious propaganda war against them," added Merera Gudina. "It is not a normal national reconciliation. It looks like the government tries to humiliate them rather than stretch its hand for national reconciliation. So that is what makes me skeptical, whether we are moving forward or not."

Those sentenced to life in prison were convicted of trying to overthrow the government when they took part in post-election demonstrations in 2005. An independent investigation later concluded that the government responded too harshly in crushing the demonstrations.

VOA News

Deadly Mogadishu blasts overshadow peace talks

Wed 18 Jul 2007

By Guled Mohamed

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Peace talks due to start in earnest in Somalia this week were overshadowed by a grenade attack in a Mogadishu market that killed at least three people on Wednesday.

The attack caused chaos at the Bakara Market, one of Africa's biggest arms markets, a day before the opening of the peace meeting, already adjourned from the weekend in a climate of violence.

At least three people including a Somali soldier died after grenades were thrown at a patrol, witnesses said.

"It's total chaos here. Troops are shooting at anyone on sight," taxi driver Ali Adan told Reuters by telephone.

Four civilians were killed in a blast at the same market late on Tuesday.

The latest violence came a day before a much-anticipated peace meeting was due to resume in the volatile capital, where attacks by insurgents targeting government troops, their Ethiopian allies and Ugandan peacekeepers have become a daily feature of life.

Mortar blasts marred the opening of the meeting on Sunday, which organisers adjourned until Thursday, saying they were waiting for more delegates to arrive.

Mohamed Ali Nur, Somalia's envoy to Kenya, denied reports the violence caused the postponement of talks seen as the interim government's best hope to end 16 years of chaos, triggered when warlords ousted the last national president in 1991.

"Some spoilers who don't want peace and good governance in Somalia are trying to spoil the conference ... we will continue," he told a news conference in Nairobi.

"We expect a good outcome."

PEACEKEEPING REVIEW

Since seizing Mogadishu from an Islamist movement in December with Ethiopian military help, the government has faced roadside bombings, Iraqi-style assassination attempts on senior officials and suicide attacks by Islamist remnants.

About 1,600 Ugandan peacekeepers serving with an African Union (AU) force have failed to quell the bloodshed. The interim government wants a fully fledged U.N. force.

On Wednesday, AU spokesman Assane Ba told Reuters the AU was reviewing their performance and was likely to ask for a six-month extension of the mission.

"We cannot leave a vacuum in Somalia," Ba said. "We know the United Nations is preparing, but at the time the mission expires they may not be able to deploy and we can't just leave Somalia like that."

As violence escalates around the sprawling Bakara traders are thinking of moving their wares to other markets in the bullet-riddled city of one million people.

"I have not sold anything this month," said shopkeeper Muse Abdi, a father of nine. "I have no option but to move my shop otherwise my kids will go hungry. I was optimistic when the government took over the city. It's so sad."

Reuters

Human Rights in Ethiopia: Another Casualty of the "War on Terror"?

Robert Naiman

An Ethiopian court sentenced 35 opposition politicians and activists to life in prison on Monday, AP reports. The prosecution had asked for the death penalty against the defendants, who included Ethiopia's top opposition leaders.

Those sentenced to life imprisonment include the leader of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, Hailu Shawel; Berhanu Nega, who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa; former Harvard scholar Mesfin Woldemariam; and former U.N. special envoy and former Norfolk State University professor, Yacob Hailemariam.

Human rights groups condemned the trial as an attempt to silence government critics, and opposition leaders have claimed it was politically motivated.

Where is the U.S. State Department in all of this? Absent without leave. It seems that since Ethiopia is doing the State Department's bidding in Somalia, the U.S. is turning a blind eye to the Ethiopian government's crackdown on dissent. That's what some of the relatives of the prisoners believe. The Washington Post reported on June 12:

The prisoners' families and others have accused the U.S. government of softening criticism of Ethiopia's human rights record in light of the country's recent military intervention to oust a radical Islamic movement in Somalia. The U.S. government supported that intervention.

"The U.S. government will not pressure the government here because they have an interest in Somalia," said a relative of one of the prisoners, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being harassed by Ethiopian security forces. "It really is a big disappointment."

There is an effort underway in Congress to reform U.S. policy towards Ethiopia to put concern for human rights back on the table. H.R.2003, introduced by Representative Donald Payne, now has 77 sponsors. It would encourage democratic reforms in Ethiopia, beginning with the release of political prisoners. Human rights groups are pressing Congress to take action on the bill before the summer recess.

Unfortunately, the crackdown in Ethiopia hasn't received a lot of attention in the U.S. press. Your Representative needs to hear from you.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Ethiopia Pardon Board to Decide Fate of Convicted Opposition Leaders

Butty interview with Simon
Listen to Butty interview with Simon
By James Butty

Washington, D.C.
17 July 2007

The Ethiopian government said 35 opposition politicians and activists who were sentenced to life imprisonment Monday by the country's Federal High Court are free to seek an appeal. Bereket Simon, advisor to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told VOA the opposition leaders and activists have signed a request asking the government to pardon them for committing what he called crimes against the constitution.

“It has been verified that the opposition who are in prison have signed a request for the government to pardon them based on the fact that they have made mistakes. So it has become a new development now,” he said.

In its decision Monday, the Federal High Court also denied the opposition leaders the right to vote or run for public office for inciting violence in an attempt to overthrow the government. Simon said the court’s decision is in line with Ethiopian law.

“That is a judicial decision. You know if they have been found criminal, and incarcerated, they have no right to vote or to run for public office,” he said.

Simon dismissed claims by international human rights groups that the trial was an attempt to silence the critics of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

“This is a process that was conducted in a fair manner in the presence of international observers. It was not politically motivated. This is a law enforcement issue; it is a legal issue. They have got the chance to defend themselves, but they were not able to defend the overwhelming facts that the government has presented. In any case, they have submitted an admission of guilt paper for the government. They have admitted clearly that they have committed mistakes that they have been trying to overthrow the government in an unconstitutional way,” Simon said.

Simon again rejected claims that the life sentence was an attempt by Prime Minister Zenawi to get rid of his political opposition. He said the Zenawi government is not afraid of the opposition.

“The same political opposition is in parliament. We are working with them; we are debating, arguing every day. We are not afraid of any of their ideas. Secondly, we will see how the Pardon Board will react to their request for pardon. If the Pardon Board accepts their request, these people might be out of prison. So in that case, it clearly tells you that this government is not afraid of the opposition as such,” he said.

Simon said the Ethiopian government initiated a legal process against the opposition leaders, which he said consummated Monday with the announcement of their life sentence. At the same time, Simon said elders in Ethiopia have been in contacted with the jailed opposition leaders.

“Both the elders and the prisoners reached an agreement; the prisoners admitted guilt. But the initiative of the elders had nothing to do with the government. The process of the government is a legal process, which has run its own course. No pressure from any outside force, no blackmail or whatsoever has stopped that from taking place, and that has been consummated now,” Simon said.

VOA News

Chronicle of an African Renaissance Foretold

Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis

July 15, 2007

As the massacres perpetrated by Meles Zenwai’s tribal soldiers plunge Ogaden in its millennia long History’s worst crisis, Ogadenis allover the world coordinate their reactions and intensify their activities in view of a Free Ogaden, devoid of Amhara and Tigray Abyssinian soldiers.

Back in Ogaden, the ONLF has taken control of a sizeable part of Ogaden’s undemocratically annexed territory; the fake ‘Ethiopian’ tyrant lost momentum, as recent events demonstrated clearly that ONLF has the possibility to efficiently defend the tyrannized Ogadenis against the governmental oppression, and at the same time to drastically damage any foreign intruder who, disregarding Human Rights’ violations and inhumanly imposed terror, closes lucrative deals with the unrepresentative and murderous tyrant Zenawi.

It is crystal clear that when the Ogadenis face extrajudicial killings, arrests and peremptory imprisonment, looting of personal belongings, and all sorts of humiliating treatment that cannot be tolerated even if applied to animals, no one can calmly exploit Ogaden’s natural resources, even if Zenawi’s greedy partner and myopic ally happens to be a significant power, China or the US.

On the other hand, the galaxies of the Ogadeni Communities abroad, either in Europe, in America or Africa, intensify their demonstrations, taking their Just and Noble Cause to the streets of Washington DC, European capitals, and other cities. Last week, a handful of manifestations took place, and Ogaden was more widely known to average Westerners who have not thus far had the chance to travel to that magnificent and marveling country, which was never a concern for package deals.

The urgency in the case of Ogaden, which can be called Africa’s first Darfur, hinges on the propinquity of Somalia, and the well documented need of the Somali Islamists to find possible allies among the oppressed and tyrannized African peoples.

The alliance of Liberation movements with the Somali extremists, and through them with al Qaeda, may be just a matter of time, very little time. It would offer Osama Bin Laden a multi-dimensional and exponential expansion; by selling arms to oppressed populations’ liberation fronts, the master of the Islamic Terror will attempt to viciously alter and definitely eradicate the traditionalist, tolerant and multi-faceted African Islam that is absolutely incompatible with the Saudi, Pakistani and Iraqi medressas of Terror.

This is what simple people allover the globe should realize; the best way to avert an Islamist explosion in Africa that would bring numerous regimes to knees, is to pressurize governments and administrations, politicians and statesmen, diplomats and military to take action now. Only free, independent, and democratically ruled peoples have no need of Islamic Terrorists, as they engage themselves in the path of progress and development.

An Independent Ogaden would be twice the size of Portugal, and more populated than Norway; it could be the focal point of Eastern African development, due to its rich soil.

It is within reach; AU and UN could expand their Somalia mission throughout Ogaden, which was illegally annexed by fake ‘Ethiopia’, by effectively replacing Amhara and Tigray soldiers and gendarmeries that are the means of Abyssinian oppression in Ogaden.

Then, following a UN monitored referendum, the Ogadenis could peacefully vote for their Independence, and like this the Western World could effectively promote the Cause of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, isolating and virtually canceling Al Qaeda’s chances in the Horn of Africa region.

I find it very important to add here a pertinent text that bears witness to Ogadenis’ political maturity and tolerance, realism and vision, as well as commitment to the liberation of their long tyrannize country.

It is a text issued during last week’s Ogadenis’ manifestations in Washington DC; the Declaration of the Ogaden American Community.

It heralds the long awaited Renaissance of Ogaden.

Declaration of the Ogaden American Community

We the Ogaden American Community,

Having witnessed what can only be described as war crimes currently being committed against innocent civilians in Ogaden by the Ethiopian Government,

Aware of the widespread detention of teachers, students, merchants, traditional elders and community activists in Ogaden by the Ethiopian regime without trial or just cause,

Concerned by the numerous cases of rape, torture, looting and public beatings the civilian population of Ogaden has had to endure at the hands of the Ethiopian regime,

Outraged by the economic blockade affecting the lives of countless citizens of Ogaden resulting in the skyrocketing of food prices and other consumer goods

Clear on the fact that this is a systematic campaign targeting the people of Ogaden because of their ethnicity and thus constituting war crimes and genocide by any definition,

Call on our government, the government of the United States of America and in particular the Secretary of State Ms. Condoleezza Rice to

1. End all non humanitarian assistance and in particular, military assistance to the Ethiopian regime.

2. Apply targeted sanctions against the leaders and army officers of the Ethiopian regime directly involved in the planning and execution of the campaign of genocide against the people of Ogaden.

3.Draft and Support a resolution in the United Nations Security Council calling for an immediate end to the genocide in Ogaden and instructing the dispatch of a

Security Council fact finding mission to Ogaden.

4. Facilitate a dialogue between the Ethiopian regime and the legitimate representatives of the people of Ogaden, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).

Life in jail for Ethiopia leaders

An Ethiopian court has handed down life sentences to all of the main opposition leaders convicted of links to violent election protests in a major trial.

Eight of the 38 opposition figures in court were given shorter prison terms. The prosecution had demanded the death penalty for them all.

They refused to recognise the court, saying the trial was political.

Their relatives say the detainees have signed a document which could pave the way for their release.

High court judge Adil Ahmed also barred the 30 Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) leaders from voting or standing for election.

Before the sentences, the US had warned that any judgement should promote reconciliation between the government and the opposition.

The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says the trial has been closely watched in the city, a CUD stronghold.

She says that the entire front row of seats in the court was taken up by diplomats and a simultaneous English translation was provided.

Apology?

Five of the 38, including CUD leader Hailu Shawel, were also convicted of inciting, organising and leading armed rebellion.

Ethiopia's government has always stressed that the courts are independent and denies that the trial is political.

Relatives of the 38, who include two women, say they have signed a document which lead to them being freed. Our correspondent says this could be some form of apology or plea for mercy.

Among the 38 are the entire CUD leadership, several of the capital's elected MPs and city councillors, including Berhanu Negga, mayor-elect of Addis Ababa.

Prosecutor Abraham Tetemke said they had tried to bring down the government when he called for the death penalty last Monday.

Hundreds of thousands took part in demonstrations complaining of fraud and rigging in the elections won by Prime Minister Meles' party.

Some 193 people were killed in protests at alleged vote-rigging.

Most of the dead were protesters, killed by security forces.

Tarnished

An independent inquiry carried out by an Ethiopian judge concluded that the police had used excessive force.

He went on to accuse them of carrying out a massacre. The judge later fled Ethiopia, saying he had been put under pressure to change his findings and had received death threats.

The government points out that it introduced multiparty elections to Ethiopia after years of military rule.

In the elections, the opposition made huge gains but says it was cheated out of victory.

Three months ago, a judge threw out controversial charges of attempted genocide and treason against another 111 people arrested after the election protests.

The violence and the charges of election fraud have tarnished Mr Meles' image as a favourite of Western donors and one of a new wave of reforming African leaders.

Some donors have reduced aid over the case.

BBC News

Ethiopian Court Sentences 35 to Life

Monday July 16, 2007

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - An Ethiopian court has convicted 35 opposition politicians and activists and sentenced them to life in prison for inciting violence in an attempt to overthrow the government, a judge said Monday.

The prosecution had called for death sentences against the defendants, who included Ethiopia's top opposition leaders and five people charged, tried and convicted in absentia.

Another eight defendants facing similar charges have been sentenced to between one and 18 years in prison, said Judge Adil Ahmed, reading the sentences on behalf of the three-judge panel.

Ethiopia's high speed hospitals

By Elizabeth Blunt BBC News, Addis Ababa

Another 20 hospitals will soon be linked to the network

In a consulting room at the Black Lion teaching hospital in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, a pregnant woman lies on a couch, while an ultrasound image is taken of her baby.

Nearby, a doctor watches, as the image appears on a computer screen in front of him.

It's a scene that can be found in hospitals worldwide.

But what is special about this consulting room is that as the image appears here, it appears simultaneously on a similar computer screen at the Care Hospital, a specialist hospital in Hyderabad in southern India.

And in two windows to the right of the screen the doctors at each end can see each other, and confer about their patient.

Indian aid

Using a light pen they can point out features on the scan to each other.

The two doctors can see each other and confer about the patient

And they can show each other X-rays, cardiograms showing the patient's heartbeat, the results of her laboratory tests - whatever they need to share.

This is just the pilot for a scheme which will eventually be rolled out all over Africa, set up by Indian technicians and paid for by Indian aid.

At the moment three hospitals are linked by fast internet connection - the Care Hospital, Black Lion, and a provincial Ethiopian hospital in Nekemte, 300 km (188 miles) to the west of Addis Ababa.

The project was officially inaugurated by the Indian Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, on his visit to Ethiopia earlier this month, but even before the official inauguration some 40 patients had benefited from the new facilities.

Sharing expertise

The next stage is to link a total of 20 hospitals round Ethiopia into the network, so health workers in rural centres can have access to the best possible advice for their patients.

In a country where transportation is often slow and difficult it should mean that very sick patients can be treated by the best doctors in the country without having to be moved from where they are.

Although a hospital in India is part of the initial hook-up, Ratan Singh, the enthusiastic project manager stresses that this is not about providing Indian medical expertise to Africa.

What he is doing, he says, is to provide a technical platform, a means of sharing expertise, which African health services can use however they think best.

India will set up the project and run it free of charge for the first five years.

A sister project will link university students and teachers across the continent.

Twenty-three African countries have already signed up to the project, which was originally agreed between India and the African Union.

Eventually it will have its own dedicated satellite and five regional super-specialist hospitals in different parts of Africa will provide the best available medical expertise.

BBC News

Explosions rock Somalia peace conference

Posted Mon Jul 16, 2007

Somalia's much-delayed peace conference has gotten off to a rocky start with seven mortar shells exploding near the Mogadishu venue.

The meeting was then adjourned to give delegates more time to arrive.

President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was addressing the conference at the time of the explosions, the nearest of which occurred about 500 metres away, but refused to cut off his speech.

"We cannot be terrified even if anti-peace elements throw an atomic bomb. I want to assure you the time of uncertainty and the use of force to pursue power is over," said the former warlord.

Police officer Ibrahim Dhagool said two shells exploded in Shibis district near the hall where Mr Yusuf was speaking, causing no injuries. Five other mortars hit a residential area, wounding three people.

Shortly afterwards, conference chief organiser Ali Mahdi Mohamed adjourned the talks to until Thursday to ensure delegates had arrived.

"Some did not arrive for logistical reasons," he said.

"The delegates will continue meeting informally to discuss on key issues. Today's adjournment was not caused by insecurity, but by the need to have everybody on board," he told AFP after the adjournment.

Officials said around 800 of the 1,325 invited delegates had registered at the venue in a police warehouse in northern Mogadishu.

"I urge you to rise above your respective clan and sub-clan (politics) in order to bring normality to our country," Mr Mohamed told delegates.

"This is a historic opportunity for you to have dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia. Most of the previous conferences were unsuccessful because they were held abroad."

Key officials at the meeting included Yusuf, parliament speaker Aden Mohamed Nur, Ethiopian minister Tekeda Alamu and Atalla Hamad el Bashir, head of the regional peacemaking bloc, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.

The virtually homeless government has failed to bring the restive country under control in its three years of existence.

It called the conference after it drove out Islamist militants from the capital with the help of Ethiopia in January. The Islamists leaders boycotting the meeting, which has already been delayed three times.

The Islamists, who want the talks held in a neutral country - and only after Ethiopian troops have pulled out of Somalia - vowed to attack the delegates in a new Internet message whose authenticity could not be confirmed.

"The alleged reconciliation conference is a link in the chain of efforts exerted by the crusaders to confer legitimacy on the (Ethiopian) occupying enemy," said a statement by the Young Mujahideen Movement and dated Friday.

Participants "must be targeted, whoever they are. Our long arm will reach (them) wherever they are, God willing," said the statement, posted on a website regularly used by Islamist militants.

Ethiopia-backed government troops had earlier sealed the conference venue, frisking pedestrians and searching vehicles while others took up positions around major hotels where delegates are staying.

But observers have said insurgent attacks could still thwart the talks, the latest in more than a dozen attempts to restore stability since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre sparked a bloody power struggle.

Sporadic gunfire was heard in Mogadishu overnight and a senior official and a boy were killed in a roadside bomb attack outside the capital early Sunday which also injured three other people, police said.

Fearing a surge in violence, hundreds of Somali families have fled the capital over the past few days.

The conference was designed to discuss a power-sharing arrangement between four major clans and a smaller one.

The meeting's 11-point agenda includes discussions on clan talks, disarmament, the sharing of resources and the "nature and impact of radical Islam."

Roland Marchal, an expert from France's Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Internationales, said the conference was taking place because the international community had requested it, but called the talks a non-starter.

-AFP

ABC Net

Bekele Back To His Best

Sheffield - Kenenisa Bekele erased any doubts about his form ahead of next month's World Championships in Japan with a record-breaking 3 000m win at the rain-lashed British Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Ethiopian, the Olympic and world 10 000m champion, burst clear with three laps to go as rain fell at the Don Valley Stadium and went nearly a lap in front of a field also featuring Australia's Craig Mottram.

Bekele's time of 7 minutes 26.69 seconds was a personal best and a new British allcomers' record, beating the 7:29.69 run of Haile Gebrselassie, his compatriot, at London's Crystal Palace eight years ago.

Mottram, who beat Bekele in September's World Cup final was way back in second, some nine seconds behind.

'It was a fantastic race'

"It was a fantastic race," said Bekele. "I'm happy to have ran so quickly especially in tough weather conditions.

"I have been training hard and this performance showed that I am at my best level."

The 400m race involving Olympic and world champion Jeremy Warriner and double-amputee Oscar Pistorius was marred by the weather.

Warriner stumbled out of the blocks and then stopped, as if expecting the starter to fire the recall gun.

But no recall came and Warriner let the field continue without him.

The wet conditions made life especially tough for Pistorius, who runs on carbon fibre blades attached to the legs below the knee.

He was last of those who finished and was subsequently disqualified for running outside his lane. American Angelo Taylor won in 45.25 seconds.

Pistorius, second in a 400m 'B' race at in Rome on Friday, had both legs amputated below the knee when less than a year old.

The 20-year-old has said his aim is to run at the World Championships in Osaka. To first do that he would need to run the qualifying time of 45.95.

Even if Pistorius does that the IAAF, athletics' world governing body, could prevent him from taking part.

They have previously ruled that the blades are an unfair advantage but have said they will wait before making a final ruling.

Tyson Gay's hopes of setting a 100m world record were frustrated by the weather, his winning time of 10.13 well outside Asafa Powell's mark of 9.77.

China's 110m hurdles world record holder Liu Xiang won his event in 13.23 beating out rivals Anwar Moore of the USA and Cuba's Dayron Robles.

"Despite the difficult conditions and a tough track, I had a good race," said Liu.

"I am confident about my chances at the world championships."

Australia's Jana Rawlinson continued her successful comeback after giving birth by winning the 400m hurdles.

The former Jana Pittman, married to retired British hurdler Chris Rawlinson, won in a time of 54.60 as she geared up for Osaka.

Britain's Natasha Danvers-Smith, runner up to Rawlinson at last year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, was second in 55.31 with Sandra Glover of the United States third in 55.54.

It was 2003 world champion Rawlinson's second win in three days after her success at Rome's Golden League meeting on Friday, having given birth seven months ago.

There was something of an upset result in the men's 1500m where Britain's Andy Baddely won in a personal best time of 3:34.74.

The 25-year-old, third in June's "Dream Mile" in Oslo, waited until the home straight before going clear of 2004 Olympic bronze and silver medallists Rui Silva and Bernard Lagat.

In a 200 metres run while rain was falling on the Don Valley track, American Wallace Spearmon won in 20.08 - a remarkable time given the conditions.

Spearmon, the 2005 world silver medallist, just edged out Jamaica's Usain Bolt by one hundredth of a second with another US athlete, Rodney Martin, third in 20.39.

Sapa-AFP