“The guilty verdict is very likely to spark anger across Ethiopian communities worldwide because the public reiterates CUD leaders committed no crimes except defeating the government of Meles Zenawi at the Polls,” an observer said.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Blunt, a BBC correspondent based in Addis, said the charges ranged from armed rebellion to “outrage against the constitution”.

Sentencing is next month and they could face the death penalty.

Hundreds of thousands took part in demonstrations complaining of fraud and vote-rigging by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government in the 2005 polls.

Almost 200 people died in two waves of protests.

The opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy blamed the deaths on the security forces but Mr Meles accused the opposition of starting the violent protests.

His government also points out that it introduced multi-party elections to Ethiopia after years of military rule.

In the elections, the opposition made huge gains but says it was cheated out of victory.

Two months ago a judge threw out controversial charges of attempted genocide and treason against 111 people arrested after the election protests.

Court convicts 38 opposition leaders

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) –

Thirty-eight opposition activists were convicted by an Ethiopian court Monday in a trial stemming from violent unrest that followed disputed elections in 2005.

The 38 members of the Coalition for Union and Democracy (CUD) were all convicted of breaching Ethiopia’s Constitution after a trial that they refused to recognise and where they opted not to defend themselves.

Twenty-two were also found guilty of obstructing the exercise of the Constitution; five were convicted of coordinating, leading and encouraging armed violence against the government; and 10 were found guilty of endangering the country’s defence.

“The court obliged the defendants to defend themselves, but they have failed to do so,” said Judge Adil Ahmed, adding that sentencing would be carried out on July 8.

Verdicts were scheduled for June 18 in the cases of an additional 12 accused who were represented in court by defence lawyers.

The Ethiopian government has regularly accused the CUD of fomenting violence and plotting its overthrow since elections in May 2005, which the opposition alleges were riddled with fraud.

At least 193 civilians and six police officers died in the capital, Addis Ababa, during post-election violence in June and November 2005.