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Aid Workers Arrested In Ethiopia

The British charity, ActionAid, says two of its workers have been arrested without charge in Ethiopia and are demanding their immediate release. ActionAid, which works in Africa, Asia and Latin America, says workers Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demessie, are among a number of activists held last month, but never charged with a crime.

Bekele is a lawyer for ActionAid in Ethiopia, and Demessie is executive director of The Organization for Social Justice in Ethiopia. Both men campaigned for independent monitoring of national elections, which the government is accused of having manipulated.

Police shot and killed 36 people in June and at least another 46 in November during protests against the outcome of the elections. Earlier this month a court ordered 23 opposition politicians to remain in custody for two more weeks. The two men are due to appear in court on Friday.