Ethiopian opposition candidate stabbed to death; party says he had been intimidated, arrested
By APTuesday, March 2, 2010
Ethiopian opposition candidate stabbed to death
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian officials say an opposition candidate has been stabbed to death in northern Ethiopia. The candidate’s party says he’d suffered a pattern of intimidation.
Opposition party chief Gebru Asrat says Aregawi Gebreyohannes was killed by six men early Tuesday. Gebru says Aregawi was arrested twice and complained about intimidation while campaigning for his small party, which belongs to an opposition coalition. Gebru says another candidate in May’s election was beaten Sunday.
Communications Minister Bereket Simon says Aregawi was killed in a bar fight and police have arrested the lone suspect.
Ethiopia has struggled with election irregularities and violence, notably in the aftermath of 2005 general elections when security forces killed 193 protesters.
