It is to be recalled that more than one thousand Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia had a rally on June 14 which denounced gathered in Brussels on 14 June 2005 to express their anger over the mass murder of peaceful protestors who demanded free and fair elections. By the time, the EU has expressed its serious concern about what’s occurring in Ethiopia and promised to issue a statement regarding its position on the current crisis in Ethiopia.

Dr Merera Gudina and Dr Berhanu Nega will also have public meeting in Leuven (Belgium) starting at 18:00 hrs. On Thursday, 23 June 2005, they will attend a rally and public meeting in The Hague , The Netherlands. Also several meetings are scheduled for them with top government officials in Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) official Lidetu Ayalew said his life was in danger as securitymen were stalking him 24 hours of the day despite the ruling party’s announcement that he has been freed from his house arrest a week ago.

Addis Zena newspaper reported on Tuesday Lidetu was hardly freed from his house arrest as plainclothed men numbering about seven had cast their presence 24 hours of the day.

Observers dimissed the government announcement that CUD officials Lidetu and President Hailu Shawel were freed from their detention as a “diplomatic stunt.”