2005 police have opened fire on protesters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, leaving at least 246 people dead and the city centre deserted after a third day of violence.Ethiopia has been hit by a general strike in protest at the deaths of 246 people during demonstrations against Meles Zenawi, its prime minister .

 Ethiopia Gov. has massed thousands of troops and tanks in the capital orderd by Meles Zenawi.

 

Amnesty International considered that the CUD leaders, journalists and human rights defenders were prisoners of conscience, who were convicted for exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association. Their convictions were based on evidence that did not prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that they committed a crime under Ethiopian law.

 Some of the CUD members and teachers’ association officials arrested in December 2006, were reportedly tortured in the police central investigation bureau in Addis Ababa known as Maikelawi. Detainees unlawfully transferred from Kenya and Somalia were reported to have been tortured or ill-treated in secret military places of detention in Addis Ababa
 

Fourteen journalists were charged with political offences in the CUD trial on account of published articles even though these did not advocate violence. Their publications were all shut down. Seven were acquitted in April, including Serkalem Fasil, who was pregnant on arrest in 2005 and later gave birth to a son in custody in hospital. Her publication company, however, was found guilty and fined. The remaining seven were convicted in June, then pardoned.