In other news from Ethiopia, the government released 38 opposition members and activists on Friday, four days after they were sentenced to life in prison. The government released the men following an outcry from the international human rights community. Hailu Shawel, the chair of Ethiopia’s Coalition for Unity and Democracy party, was one of the prisoners released.

Hailu Shawel: “We are finally out, but we hope the Ethiopian people also will be out of this mess we are in, and we will change this country for the better. We hope everyone will participate in the next discussion we will have so that all Ethiopia will come together and build a new Ethiopia for everyone.”

The opposition members were arrested after the disputed elections in 2005.