March seeks Ethiopia politician's release

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 16 (UPI) -- The mother of a jailed Ethiopian opposition leader says she hopes to have her daughter home in time for this weekend's Ethiopian Orthodox Easter holiday.

Almaz GebreEgziabher took part in a protest march in Addis Ababa Thursday demanding the release of Birtukan Medeska, who had been granted a pardon that was repealed.

"I saw her last Saturday, and she is quite well," GebreEgziabher told the BBC. "I am praying that, with the help of God, she might be released tomorrow or the day after so that she can spend (Ethiopian Orthodox) Easter with me and her daughter."

The BBC noted that Ethiopia doesn't have much of a tradition of public protest, so Thursday's march drew stunned looks from passersby.

The popular Birtukan was one of more than 100 opposition members jailed for treason after the 2005 election. The BBC said most have since been pardoned.

Birtukan was herself released last year, but was re-arrested and sent to prison for life after she assumed leadership of a new opposition coalition. The government said she was arrested because she had publicly denied she had asked for a pardon.