UK stands accused over extradition of Ethiopian opposition leader

Andargachew Tsige, a British national, may face death penalty after extradition from Yemen

Martin Plaut

Addis Ababa: Tsige was accused of attempting to overthrow the Ethiopian government and sentenced to death in absentia. Photograph: Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press

The Foreign Office has been accused of failing to act to prevent theextradition to Ethiopia of an opposition leader facing the death penalty.

Andargachew Tsige, a British national, is secretary general of an exiled Ethiopian opposition movement, Ginbot 7. He was arrested at Sana'a airport on 23 June by the Yemeni security services while in transit between the United Arab Emirates and Eritrea.

"The British knew he was being held in Yemen for almost a week but they did nothing," said Ephrem Madebo, a spokesman for Ginbot 7. "We are extremely worried about Mr Andargachew, because the Ethiopians kill at will."

The Foreign Office, which called in the Yemeni ambassador earlier this week, said it was urgently seeking confirmation that Andargachew was in Ethiopia.

"If confirmed this would be deeply concerning given our consistent requests for information from the Yemeni authorities, the lack of any notification of his detention in contravention of the Vienna convention and our concerns about the death penalty that Mr Tsige could face in Ethiopia," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

It added: "The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle … We continue to call on all countries around the world that retain the death penalty to cease its use."

Ginbot 7 is among the largest of Ethiopia's exiled opposition movements. The party was founded by Berhanu Nega, who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in 2005. Refusing to accept the result, the prime minister, Meles Zenawi, declared a state of emergency, which was followed by days of protest and clashes on the streets of the capital.

Berhanu Nega was jailed, and founded Ginbot 7 on his release. Accused of attempting to overthrow the Ethiopian government, he and Andargachew Tsige were sentenced to death in absentia. Ginbot 7 was declared a terrorist organisation. The party says it stands for the peaceful end to what it describes as the Ethiopian dictatorship.

Andargachew was travelling to Eritrea, which has clashed with Ethiopia since a border war between the two countries ended in June 2000.

The Eritrean authorities host a number of exiled Ethiopian movements, including some attempting to overthrow the Ethiopian government.

Ana Gomes, a Portuguese member of the European parliament who led the EU observer mission to the 2005 Ethiopian elections, has written to William Hague, calling on the UK foreign secretary to intervene on Andargachew's behalf, saying: "I urge you now to do the utmost to ensure his release and protection and his return to the United Kingdom as soon as possible."

=>theguardian