Addis Ababa (AFP) – Ethiopia’s tribal junta has criticized the Human Rights Watch (HRW) over its report that the country’s draft anti-terrorism law would violate human rights.

“HRW’s so-called analysis is replete with harsh generalisations,” Ethiopia’s foreign ministry said in a statement Friday.

“It cannot be considered a credible commentary on compatibility of the draft law with Ethiopia’s human rights obligations.”

The US-based watchdog on Tuesday said the law, currently before parliament, broadly defined terrorism, risked muzzling political speech and encouraging unfair trials.

The law presented by the government of [warlord] Meles Zenawi is to counter the activities of some separatist groups.

In recent months, Ethiopia’s [rubber stamp] parliament has passed a series of laws tightening up on the activities of non-governmental organizations, associations and the local media, while most political opponents are in prison or living in exile.