Ethiopian Opposition To Face Treason Charges

According to the BBC, detained Ethiopian opposition leaders and newspaper editors will face treason charges over their part in last week's demonstrations. The maximum punishment is the death penalty.

As another article from the site says, many western diplomats are hoping for the immediate release of detainees from the CUD, followed by the encouragement of the opposition to take up their seats in parliament to resolve the crisis.

This attempt to charge the opposition with treason, may mark a watershed point. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is turning his back on diplomacy and negotiation, instead adopting a much more hardline approach. The decline of Democracy could be deepening...