May 3, 2009
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The Ethiopian authorities on Sunday arrested another army general over last week’s alleged assassination attempt against unnamed government officials.
Last week, 35 people accused of preparing to assassinate top government officials, including one army general, were arrested.
It was reported here that another general who was recently fired from the army was arrested Sunday by the government in connection with the same alleged plot to assassinate government officials.
Brigadier General Asaminew Tisge was arrested after he was suspected by the government of being among those who accused of involvement in the plot.
On Friday, the Minister of Communication Affairs Bureau, Bereket Simon told journalists in Addis Ababa that the number of people arrested for the assassination plot has reached 40.
Bereket however did not give details about the identity of those arrested. He only said that six of the 40 people are military officers who were recently fired from the army due to the on-going reform at the army. Bereket also indicated that those arrested will face charges for their activity, which he said were still being investigated.
Earlier, Ethiopian authorities arrested Brigadier General Tefera Mamo for leading the military assassination attempt.
The government also accused the 40 arrested people of preparing to damage public facilities in and around Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian authorities have pointed fingers at Ginbot 7 (May 15), a political party which is based in the United States for being behind the assassination attempt. However, the party’s leader Dr. Birhanu Nega has denied being behind the reported assassination attempt. Nega was among the opposition leaders who were arrested and pardoned by the government following the May 2005 post-election violence in Ethiopia.
