Ethiopia slaps life sentences on opposition figures - Yahoo! News: "KALITI, Ethiopia (AFP) - Ethiopia's high court on Tuesday handed down life sentences on more than 30 opposition leaders who had been facing the death penalty after being convicted of planning a coup. "
High court judge Adil Ahmed gave life terms to 34 of the 38 defendants, including Hailu Shawl and Bernahu Nega, two senior leaders of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party.
According to an AFP correspondent who witnessed the verdict in the town of Kaliti, some 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, four other defendants received 18-year sentences.
Prosecutors last week had requested the death penalty for the 38, drawing criticism from Washington and a barrage of condemnation from international rights groups.
High court judge Adil Ahmed gave life terms to 34 of the 38 defendants, including Hailu Shawl and Bernahu Nega, two senior leaders of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party.
According to an AFP correspondent who witnessed the verdict in the town of Kaliti, some 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, four other defendants received 18-year sentences.
Prosecutors last week had requested the death penalty for the 38, drawing criticism from Washington and a barrage of condemnation from international rights groups.
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