Ethiopia told to reveal fate of political prisoners 
 
Harare, 6 May-(ANA)-Amnesty International  has called on the Ethiopian government to immediately disclose the names and fate of more than 35 people believed to be held by its security forces on political grounds since 24 April. 
   
Additional arrests have reportedly been carried out over the past several days and sources in the country have told Amnesty International that further arrests are expected. 
 
Many are believed to have been arrested for their alleged involvement in planning a thwarted attack on the government, but others appear to have been arrested for their own or family members’ peaceful political opposition to the government.  Amongst the 35 is an 80-year-old grandfather in urgent need of medical care. 

“We are very concerned about the fate of those arrested,” said Michelle Kagari, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Programme. 
  
Amnesty  said that due to the secret nature of their detention, they are at significant risk of torture or other forms of ill-treatment. (ANA)

FA/ANA/6 May 2009---