Ethiopia PM says may pardon jailed politicians, journalists

By Aaron Maasho

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on Wednesday Ethiopia could pardon politicians and journalists arrested under a 2009 anti-terrorism law, but dismissed opposition criticism he was using the law to clamp down on dissent.

Rights groups say the government has used the law to crack down on its opponents, saying 150 opposition politicians and supporters have been detained under its provisions in the past three years.

Zenawi rejected the complaints, telling parliament: "All trials are transparent, all suspects are allowed access to lawyers and some have even been freed when no evidence was found to justify their arrests."

"But we would also consider granting clemency if culprits admit guilt and to making mistakes," he said in response to questions from lawmakers.

Ethiopia passed the bill after bombings in a number of towns and subsequently branded as terrorist organisations the secessionist Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the exiled Ginbot 7 movement, al Qaeda and Somalia's al Shabaab militants.

Meles dismissed rights groups' complaints that the scope of the anti-terrorism law was too broad, saying it was copied "word-for-word" from those of Western countries.

"We haven't changed a word, a comma even, as those laws emanate from countries with vast democratic experience," he said.

JOURNALISTS CANNOT ESCAPE THE LAW