Ethiopia accused Italy of harbouring criminals in its embassy in Addis Ababa on Friday and demanded a full explanation for the deaths of two genocide suspects while sheltering there.
Former interim president Tesfaye Gebre Kidan and Hailu Yemenu, a former deputy prime minister of the Horn of Africa country were among several officials who took refuge in the Italian embassy when rebel forces rumbled into the capital in May 1991 to oust Marxist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam.
Tesfaye, who ruled Ethiopia for just seven days after Mengistu fled the country in 1991, died in unexplained circumstances at the embassy earlier this month. Hailu is thought to have committed suicide there in 1991.
Both men were being tried in absentia for genocide before their deaths.
Italian officials in Addis Ababa declined to comment on Ethiopia's request for an investigation. Italy has consistently refused to hand the men over, citing Ethiopia's use of the death penalty.
Unconfirmed reports said Tesfaye was fighting with another embassy resident, former foreign minister Berhanu Bayhe, just before his death on June 4. A hospital source said he appeared to have been hit on the head with a bottle.
The Ethiopian foreign ministry accused Italy of giving sanctuary to criminals and repeated a demand that the embassy hand over Berhanu and former armed forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Addis Tedla, also sheltering in the embassy.
"Harbouring criminals that are to face trial on genocide and war crimes does not only contravene international conventions but is also encouraging further criminal acts to be committed," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"...the Italian government and its embassy should understand that facilitating further crimes to be committed by these people, who are enjoying the sanctuary of the embassy, cannot and should not be allowed to continue," the statement said.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.