Official: Ethiopia arrests 35 for coup plot

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Ethiopian government has arrested 35 people suspected of a coup attempt allegedly backed by an Ethiopian economist now teaching at a Pennsylvania university, a government spokesman said Saturday. Government spokesman Ermias Legesse said the group, which calls itself "May 15" after the date of controversial 2005 elections in Ethiopia, was led from the US by former opposition leader Berhanu Nega, who is an assistant professor of economics at Bucknell University. "It is the party led by Berhanu Nega," said Ermias. "If he comes to Ethiopia, we'll arrest him." He said the alleged plotters were arrested Friday.