Help urged for Canadian held in Ethiopia

OTTAWA, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The Canadian government needs to help set free Canadian businessman Bashir Makhtal after three years in custody in Ethiopia, Makhtal's cousin says.

Makhtal's cousin, Said Maktal, who spells his name slightly differently, insists his cousin never received a fair trial in Ethiopia after being arrested at a Kenyan border post three years ago last week and transported to Ethiopia, The Ottawa Citizen reported Saturday.

"His only hope now is the government of Canada," Maktal said.

"The government told us to follow the rules and regulations, but we didn't see a fair trial at any stage. The message now is: We need action."

Makhtal was convicted last August on terror-related charges amid allegations he is the leader of the Ogaden National Liberation Front separatist group and received a life prison sentence.

His supporters maintain the businessman was simply targeted because he is ethnically Somali, the Citizen said.

John Baird, Canada's minister of transportation and infrastructure, said he is planning on traveling to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa this month in hopes of resolving the conflict regarding Makhtal's case.