Ethiopia frees opposition leader

By Aaron Maasho (AFP) – 4 hours ago

ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia freed opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa on Wednesday, saying it had granted a plea for pardon from her.

The 36-year-old Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) leader was first jailed in 2005 when the opposition protested poll results that year, leading to unrest that resulted in the death of some 200 people

Birtukan and other opposition figures were charged with plotting against the constitution in connection with those skirmishes, but were released in 2007 after being pardoned.

But she was sent back to prison in December 2008 after claiming she had never asked for pardon.

"It was very hard in jail. I found it very difficult to be alone for all that time. I am very pleased that I have been released," she told AFP Wednesday...Full story